Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.23
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Nationalist Movement Party of Turkey and its chairman Devlet Bahceli do not recognize the legitimacy of ministers named in the corruption scandal, Anadolu agency reported on Dec.23.
All decisions of the ministers named in the corruption scandal will be considered invalid for party members until their innocence is proven, according to Bahceli.
Turkish police conducted special operations in Istanbul and Ankara on Dec.18, resulting in the arrest of 52 people that includes businessmen and sons of some ministers.
The businessmen are accused of corruption, smuggling and selling drugs.
Among those detained were the sons of some ministers, who are the members of Turkey's ruling party - Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan's son, Salih Kaan Caglayan and Interior Minister Muammar Guler's son Baris Guler, Minister for Urban Development and Environment Erdogan Bayraktar's son Oguz Bayraktar. All three were detained on suspicion of corruption.
Mayor of Istanbul's Fatih Municipality, Mustafa Demir, director general of Turkish Halkbank Suleyman Aslan and famous entrepreneur Ali Agaoglu were arrested during the same operation by police. Searches were conducted at Halkbank's office.
Senior police officers investigating a Turkish corruption scandal were dismissed on Dec.18.
Additionally, the names of Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, Interior Minister Egemen Bagish, Interior Minister Muammar Guler and Minister for Urban Development and Environment Erdogan Bayraktar are appearing in the corruption scandal.
The Turkish court made a decision on measure of restraint in the form of arrest of interior minister's son Baris Guler and businessman Reza Zarrab. Economy minister's son Salih Kaan Caglayan is also among the detainees in accordance to the court's decision.
The mayor of Istanbul's Fatih Municipality, Mustafa Demir and the famous entrepreneur Ali Agaoglu were released on Dec.21.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by C.N.