Prosecutor dismisses charges against former Turkish President Gül

ANKARA

Turkey’s 11th president, Abdullah Gül. AA Photo

A local court has dismissed charges against Turkey’s 11th president, Abdullah Gül, less than one month after he testified in a corruption case from the 1990s, known as the “lost trillion case.”

Gül appealed to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office upon the ending of his presidential term to initiate the required procedure to finalize the case, under the motives of “having justice operate flawlessly and seamlessly” and “in order to not leave any doubt on any issue.” Due to his legal immunity from being a member of Parliament and later president, the case was halted during his tenure in office.

Upon being summoned by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office to complete the related file, Gül testified by going to the prosecutor’s office on Nov. 18. The Office decided on Dec. 5 that there were no grounds for legal action against Gül.

Gül, who took office as president in 2007, announced in 2009 that he was ready to testify, but prosecutors, as well as legal experts on Turkey’s presidency, objected because of possible protocol problems.