Turkish gov’t reshuffles over 200 judges and prosecutors amid graft probe

ANKARA

The justice minister is the head of the HSYK and has broad authority in the appointment of key judges and prosecutors according to a new law enacted last month.

The key government-controlled judicial body reshuffled 271 judges and prosecutors on March 23, in the latest wave of purges in the judiciary amid the ongoing corruption and graft probe engulfing top government figures.

A decree about the reappointments of the judges and prosecutors was issued by the first chamber of the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), upon which the government’s control was unprecedentedly increased as a result of an amendment on the law. The justice minister is the head of the HSYK and has broad authority in the appointment of key judges and prosecutors.

Celal Kara, the former Istanbul prosecutor who was responsible for launching the corruption probe, was previously appointed to the Central Anatolian province of Afyonkarahisar. The government also dismissed hundreds of policemen and prosecutors who have been involved in this probe.

The latest decree follows the government’s decision to close specially authorized courts and appoint the heads of these courts to other positions, including in Ankara and Istanbul.