Erdogan criticizes, undermines huge corruption investigation
The Turkish government has enacted a flurry of measures to thwart a massive corruption investigation, threatening fundamental norms of democracy.
One of Turkey’s largest-ever corruption investigations is underway. A public bank CEO, an Iranian businessman and the sons of the freshly resigned interior and economy ministers are among the 24 suspects arrested so far, pending trial. The Iranian businessman allegedly circumvented sanctions against Iran and sent millions of dollars to the country via Halkbank by bribing the CEO as well as the ministers through their sons. The alleged bribes the ministers received through their sons are said to amount to 133 million Turkish lira (about $64.5 million).
The investigation file includes many other charges, including money laundering, fraud in urban construction works and the provision of Turkish citizenship to foreigners in return for bribes.
The probe — launched in strict secrecy more than a year ago by Istanbul prosecutors and a police team attached to their office — became public knowledge on Dec. 17, when police began to round up suspects, sending shock waves across Turkey. And not only the man in the street, but the government, too, appeared dumbfounded.
The shock, however, quickly gave way to furious outbursts and major interventions in the judicial process. The government, in fact, has taken almost all the steps that one could think of in terms of intervening in and influencing a judicial investigation.
