Halkbank’s ex-general manager at center of graft scandal back on bank’s board

ANKARA

The former general manager of Halkbank, Süleyman Aslan, who was one of the main suspects implicated in the massive corruption scandal rocking the country, has been appointed to the state-run bank’s executive board, daily Taraf reported.

Aslan became a notorious figure after $4.5 million were found in shoeboxes during graft raids at his home, cash that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan claimed was “charity money.”

He was released from detention Feb. 14 following the assignment of new prosecutors to the case.

The report said Aslan would take a seat on the executive board, left vacant by the death of a former member. He will be allowed to participate in meetings and will have the same rights as other executive members, such as a residence, a car and an office.  

The report also said Aslan will not only receive the salary of an executive board member, but the two months in salary withheld while he was in custody will also be reimbursed to him.

Accused of illegal transfers of gold to Iran in exchange for money via Halkbank in partnership with a ring formed by Iranian-born Azeri businessman Reza Zarrab, Aslan was replaced while still in custody as head of the bank by Ali Fuat Taşkesenlioğlu.

Zarrab and the sons of the former ministers of the interior and economy were also eventually released last week, causing a major uproar.