Turkish justice minister appoints brother as high consultant to ministry

ISTANBUL

Bekir Bozdağ took office from Sadullah Ergin following a Cabinet reshuffle on Dec. 25. DAILY NEWS photo

Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ has appointed his brother to a high-level position inside the ministry less than a week after taking the office, according to the official gazette on Jan. 3.

Ünal Bozdağ, until date serving as the deputy director general of the personnel department, was appointed as a high-consultant to the ministry with a decision signed by Bozdağ, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Abdullah Gül accordingly to the official procedures. 

Former deputy prime minister, Bozdağ was named as the new justice minister in the Cabinet reshuffle announced by Erdoğan on Dec. 25 amid a graft scandal. He replaced Sadullah Ergin who will run in the upcoming local elections in the southern province of Hatay. 

Bozdağ had confirmed in 2012 that his brother worked for the Justice Ministry following a parliament question submitted on the sidelines of a debate on the an amendment to the law on National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and the state intelligence services. 

“He has the right to work as civil servant as everyone does,” Bozdağ said after it was learned that his brother was appointed the as deputy director general of Justice Ministry’s personnel department, a key position in any state institution. 

“He has passed the [required] test with his elbow grease and is a judge. Is this a crime or shameful?” a revolted Bozdağ had asked during the debate. 

The development comes amid a graft scandal that implicates the sons and close circles of three ex-ministers.