Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
A court in Turkey ruled that the confiscated funds of the ex-head of Turkish Halk Bankasi, Suleyman Aslan, will be returned, the Hurriyet newspaper reported Dec. 19.
It was also decided to return the confiscated money of the ex-interior minister, Muammer Guler's son, Baris Guler.
As part of an investigation into a corruption scandal that broke out in December 2013, some $2.5 million and 1.5 million EUR were confiscated from Suleyman Aslan.
At the same time, some 400,000 TRY (about $172,000), 300,000 EUR, and $100,000 were confiscated from Baris Gulen.
Turkish police conducted special operations in Istanbul and Ankara on Dec.17, 2013, resulting in the arrest of several dozen people including businessmen and the sons of some ministers. The detainees were accused of corruption, smuggling and selling drugs.
Former Interior Minister Muammar Guler's son, Baris Guler, former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan's son, Salih Kaan Caglayan, the Mayor of Istanbul's Fatih Municipality Mustafa Demir, well known entrepreneur Ali Agaoglu and businessman Reza Zarrab were all arrested during the same operation by police.
All the ministers resigned after the corruption scandal.
Turkish prosecutor's office made a decision to release the detainees in February 2014.
Edited by SI
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