Asset injunction on ex-interior minister’s son lifted by Turkish court

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

Barış Güler is still under arrest as part of the graft operation launched Dec. 17. DHa photo

An asset injunction imposed on former Interior Minister Muammer Güler’s son has been lifted after an objection was filed at an Istanbul court, daily Hürriyet reported Jan. 1.

Barış Güler was detained as part of a graft probe launched on Dec. 17 after cash was found in his apartment following a police search. 

He is accused of aiding the illegal transactions of prominent businessmen, including Reza Sarrab of Azerbaijan, in return for money, according to some reports. 

The son of the former Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan and former Environment and Urban Planning Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar were also implicated in the corruption case. 

Following the graft operation, Muammer Güler said the cash found in his son’s apartment was part of the money they had received following the sale of a house. All three ministers stepped down from their position last week ahead of a large Cabinet reshuffle. 

Injunction orders in second probe not carried out 

According to Hürriyet, asset injunction orders issued by the head prosecutor of a second graft investigation have not been carried out.

Prosecutor Muammer Akkaş was controversially removed from the case last week after issuing arrest and asset injunction orders, denouncing “pressures” on the judiciary.

He issued injunction orders on the assets of seven suspects – mostly prominent businessman – among the 41 who were due to be arrested in an operation, the report said.

The injunction order was not been carried out as it was not sent to any institution, such as the tax department and banks, who apply the required procedure, it added. 

The Istanbul chief public prosecutor said the case was being pursued by five prosecutors following Akkaş’s removal from the case.

Akkaş had previously stated that police officers had been prevented from carrying out arrest orders as part of his investigation.

But he became the target of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who not only accused him of leaking information to the media, but also claimed that he was using his position to go after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).