News Scan

News Scan – March 14th: First indictment in Turkey’s graft probe approved by public prosecutor’s office

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First indictment in Turkey’s graft probe approved by public prosecutor’s office

The Istanbul Public Prosecutors’ Office has approved the first indictment in a corruption probe launched on Dec. 17, 2013, sending it to the 20th High Criminal Court.

The indictment, which was completed by Prosecutor Ekrem Aydıner against suspects detained in the investigation into Fatih Municipality, was sent to the deputy chief prosecutor tasked with criminal organizations early this morning.

The court has 15 days to either approve or reject the indictment.

The indictment covers 21 people, including Fatih Mayor Mustafa Demir and charges the suspects, among other things, with “taking and giving bribes, destroying and hiding official documents, and violating Law No. 2863.”

Istanbul prosecutors launched the huge graft probe in December, resulting in the resignation of four ministers from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. With the recent releases of five suspects, including the sons of two former ministers and prime suspect Iranian-born Azeri businessman Reza Zarrab, there are no more suspects under arrest in the investigation. Twenty-four people were arrested in the initial stages of the probe.

HURRIYET DAILY NEWS

ISPAT calls on Italian companies to invest in Turkey

In a seminar in Italy’s capital Rome organized in collaboration with the Italian Employers Federation (Confindustria), the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) has invited Italian companies to invest in Turkey’s growing economy.

Focusing on infrastructure, renewable energy and healthcare sectors, the seminar brought together 50 Italian companies and ISPAT staff to confer on the investment opportunities in Turkey as well as the incentives provided for investors in the country.
Speaking at the event, ISPAT President Ilker Ayci said that the Italian companies’ dynamic nature and fast adaptation capability to local business culture were proving to be a winning combination in the equally dynamic Turkish market.

“Turkey is not only a gateway to surrounding markets in the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia but also has a huge domestic market with a population of 75 million – half under the age of 29 – a solid financial system, and a consistently growing economy”, Ayci said, highlighting Turkey’s potential for foreign investors.

Also serving as the President of World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), Ayci said that the healthcare sector in Turkey presented many opportunities thanks to last year’s reforms thacess to public-private partnerships in proving healthcare services.

Turkish-Italian trade volume reached USD 18 billion in 2013 with over 1,000 Italian companies operating in Turkey. The Italian pharmaceutical company, Recordati, announced a manufacturing investment worth USD 50 million in Turkey last month.

INVEST.GOV.TR

Recording reveals PM’s undersecretary ordered police chief to detain graft prosecutor

Leaked audio recordings uploaded to YouTube by an anonymous user at different times this week, allegedly featuring the voice of Interior Minister Efkan Ala, suggest that the minister does not have any respect for the rule of law and considers the government, of which he is a member, strong enough to resort to arbitrary and unlawful practices, with no concern for being held accountable for those deeds.
In one of the recordings, posted online on Wednesday, Ala allegedly told the governor of İstanbul province not to allow police to carry out a search at Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s house in İstanbul’s Kısıklı neighborhood. If the police insist on going into the prime minister’s house for a search, a voice purportedly of Ala is heard telling Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, he should remove all those officers from their duty and the government would immediately pass a law to allow the governor to avoid a legal case due to the unlawful removals. The veracity of the recording has not been confirmed.

According to news sources, the phone conversation between Ala and Mutlu took place on Dec. 18, 2013 — one day after the major corruption operation broke. Police searched the houses of the sons of three former Cabinet ministers on Dec. 17 and found large sums of money stashed in those houses. The three sons as well as several businessmen and bureaucrats were detained, and later arrested, on accusations of corruption and bribery. The suspects were recently released pending trial. An earlier voice recording suggested that the prime minister had large sums of money — as much as $1 billion, according to rumors — in his houses, including the one in Kısıklı, and a voice allegedly belonging to Prime Minister Erdoğan was heard ordering his son Bilal to immediately dispose of that money.

TODAYS ZAMAN

Two million marched, 417 arrested during Berkin Elvan protests as ‘disproportionate force’ probed

The death of 15-year-old Gezi victim Berkin Elvan caused 2 million people from 53 provinces of Turkey to march in mourning and in protest over two days.

Police intervened in demonstrations in 13 provinces, as at least 52 civilians and 19 policemen were injured and security forces detained 417 people, according to figures collected by daily Hürriyet from different sources. In Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Mersin, marches and protests continued until morning.

The General Directorate of Security (EGM) has initiated a probe into claims of “disproportionate force,” excessive use of teargas” and potentially lethal use of teargas grenade guns by the police.

The investigation initiated by EGM into the allegedly disproportionate force used in the Gezi Park protests last summer had stalled before drawing any conclusions.

HURRIYET DAILY NEWS

Erdogan’s silence shows absence of moral compass (by Kadri Gürsel)

On March 12, thousands of Turkish citizens poured into the streets of Istanbul to take part in the funeral of Berkin Elvan. The 15-year-old boy with huge dark eyes and an impish smile has emerged as a symbol of protest against the tightening grip of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Across the nation, thousands more are chanting “Killer Erdogan,” and braving water cannons and clouds of pepper spray to march in solidarity.

Why has Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan not yet expressed contrition or condolence for the death of Berkin Elvan?
Author Amberin Zaman Posted March 12, 2014

Berkin died a day earlier, on March 11, after lying in a coma for 269 days. On June 16, 2013, at the height of the Gezi Park protests, riot police fired a gas canister, hitting Berkin on the head. Berkin had gone out to buy bread for his working-class family. “Mama, don’t go. I will. You might get hurt,” he had said.

When he was admitted to the hospital, Berkin weighed 45 kilograms (99 pounds). By the time he died he was down to 16 kilograms (35 pounds). “God did not take my son, Tayyip [Erdogan] did,” cried Gulsum, the stricken mother, upon learning of her only son’s death.

How did Erdogan respond? Nobody knows.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/03/erdogan-berkin-elvan-death-moral-compass.html#ixzz2vxGaxn3k

Turkey’s January current account deficit boosts hopes for year-end

Turkey’s January current account deficit was almost $1 billion less than last year, official data has shown, indicating the country may witness a significant recovery in its biggest weakness by the year-end as the government and analysts predict

The current account deficit has shrunk 16 percent from $5.8 billion to $4.87 billion in January within a one-year period. AFP photo
With the boost of rising export revenues from a weaker Turkish Lira, Turkey’s current account deficit has narrowed over expectations in January, fuelling government hopes of seeing a remarkable contraction in the gap by the year-end.

According to the balance of payment data released by the Central Bank yesterday, the country’s current account deficit has become $4.88 billion in January, falling by $932 million from last year’s same month. The deficit, which showed a 16 percent increase on an annual basis, has come far below the market expectations, which were between $7 and $8 billion.

HURRIYET DAILY NEWS

 14.03.2014

This is a news-scan from major Turkish papers and internet sites. However, we do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.

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