Turkish court ordered confiscation of suspects’ properties before launch of bribery operation

ISTANBUL

Interior Minister Muammer Güler’s son Barış Güler was also detained as a part of the bribery operation. CİHAN photo

The Istanbul 18th Criminal Court of Peace ordered the confiscation of all property of suspects detained on Dec. 17 as a part of the ongoing corruption investigation, only one day before the police launched the operation, daily Hürriyet has reported.

Almost 30 individuals and companies were on the list, including Interior Minister Muammer Güler’s son Barış Güler, Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan’s son Salih Kaan Çağlayan, and Azeri businessman Reza Zarrab.

Meanwhile, nine suspects were taken to the Istanbul courthouse in Çağlayan today for questioning, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Prosecutor Celal Kara, who is leading the operation, will reportedly question the suspects after they undergo health checks.

Nine suspects released

Nine suspects were released after undergoing health checks at Istanbul’s Haseki Hospital on Dec. 18.

The names of the released individuals are Hüseyin Uçar, Kemal Arslan, Murat Cansunar, Yılmaz Çelik, Suphi Vurgeç, Bilir Vakıf Yardımağan, Faruk Altunbay, Bahattin Kuş, and Ahmet Fikri Okumuş.