Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office launches probe into Zarrab case attorneys

Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched a probe into New York’s Preet Bharara, former U.S. Attorney in-charge of the jailed Iranian-Turkish gold trader Reza Zarrab’s case, and Joon H. Kim, Acting U.S. Attorney, on Nov. 18 over evidence used in trial of Turkish citizens.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who was fired on March 11, is in league with the followers of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen against Turkey, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said on March 12, adding that his firing was “totally the decision of the U.S. government.

Bharara, who garnered fame in Turkey for launching a probe against a controversial Turkish-Iranian businessman, was asked to resign, but was fired after his refusal to do so. 

“Prosecutor Bharara is the partner of an operation carried out by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization terror group’s leader, Gülen, and his terrorists using Reza Zarrab against Turkey. It’s very clear,” Bozdağ said at an event in the northwestern province of Düzce on March 12. 

Zarrab was arrested in the U.S. last year on charges that he conspired to conduct hundreds of millions of dollars in financial transactions for the Iranian government or other entities to evade U.S. sanctions. 

He is widely known in Turkey, as his name was embroiled in the December 2013 graft operations that involved four former ministers and other state officials.

The case targeted figures close to the government.