Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 18
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Senior police officers investigating a Turkish corruption scandal were dismissed, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported today.
The heads of finance, anti-smuggling, anti-terrorism departments and the head of the law enforcement department of Istanbul's Police Department were dismissed, according to the information.
Turkish police have recently conducted special operations in Istanbul and Ankara, 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.
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 are said to be among those arrested. All three were detained on suspicion of corruption.
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 famous entrepreneur Ali Agaoglu were arrested during the same operation by police. Searches were conducted at Halkbank's office.
Translated by NH
Edited by CN