Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 20
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The investigation taking place into the case of the sons of some Turkish government ministers has started today. Their names are mentioned in a corruption scandal and are the sons of Interior Minister Muammer Guler - Baris Guler, Minister of Economy Zafer Caglayan - Salih Kaan Caglayan, and Minister of Environment and Urban Planning Erdogan Bayraktar - Oguz Bayraktar, Zaman newspaper reported today. All three were detained on suspicion of corruption.
According to the newspaper, alongside them, prominent Turkish businessman Ali Agaoglu was also involved in the investigation of the corruption scandal.
Turkish police conducted special operations in Istanbul and Ankara on December 18, 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.The ministers are the members of the Turkish ruling party.
Mayor of Istanbul's Fatih Municipality, Mustafa Demir, Director General of Turkish Halkbank, Suleyman Aslan and well known entrepreneur Ali Agaoglu were arrested during the same operation by police. Searches were conducted at Halkbank's office.
Some senior police officers investigating the corruption scandal have recently been dismissed in Turkey.
Interior Minister Muammer Guler, Minister of Economy Zafer Caglayan, Minister on EU Affairs Egemen Bagis and Minister of Environment and Urban Planning Erdogan Bayraktar are also involved in a corruption scandal.
Translated by NH
Edited by SM