Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.18
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The immunity of three ministers in Turkey, the Minister of Economy Zafer Caglayan, Interior Minister Muammer Guler and Minister for Urban Development and Environment Erdogan Bayraktar can be withdrawn, KanalD TV channel reported on Dec.18.
It is expected that the Prosecutor's Office of Istanbul appealed to the country's parliament for withdrawal of immunity of three ministers, according to the TV channel.
Turkish police have recently conducted special operations in Istanbul and Ankara, resulting in the arrest of 52 people that include 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 members of Turkey's ruling party. They are Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan's son, Salih Kaan Caglayan and Interior Minister Muammar Guler's son Baris Guler, and 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 and director general of Turkish Halkbank, Suleyman Aslan as well as famous entrepreneur Ali Agaoglu were arrested during the same operation by police. Searches were conducted at Halkbank's office.
Senior police officers investigating the corruption scandal were dismissed in Turkey on Dec.18.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by S.M.