Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.23
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The head of the Turkish Telecommunications Directorate Cemaletdin Chelik has been dismissed in connection with the illegal wiretapping of the Turkish prime minister's phone, Turkish Sabah newspaper reported on Dec.23.
Chelik worked at the Turkish National Intelligence Organization till 2012, according to the newspaper.
During the investigation of the corruption scandal in Turkey, it was discovered that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's phone conversations had been wiretapped.
A year ago Istanbul police received information about serious corruption offenses, and phone conversations of a number of officials of the country, including the prime minister were wiretapped throughout this year.
Turkish police conducted special operations in Istanbul and Ankara on Dec.17, 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.