Turkish Deputy PM files complaint over ‘violation of secrecy’ in corruption probe

ANKARA

“As a deputy prime minister, I am filing a criminal complaint against whoever violated the secrecy [of the bribery probe] in the presence of the Justice Commission,” Deputy PM Bekir Bozdağ has said. CİHAN photo

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ has announced that he will file a criminal complaint over the violation of secrecy in the corruption investigation currently shaking Turkey.

“As a deputy prime minister, I am filing a criminal complaint against whoever violated the secrecy [of the bribery probe] in the presence of the Justice Commission, whether they are prosecutors, clerks or police,” Bozdağ said, speaking at the commission’s meeting on Dec. 19, Anadolu Agency reported.

“The law should be executed in compliance with the criminal code and the Constitution. The 285th clause [of the Turkish Criminal Code] is clear in explaining the violation of an investigation’s secrecy is a crime,” he stressed.

The senior Justice and Development (AKP) lawmaker also stressed his party was “above board,” and vowed not to cover up any party members’ fraud.

“We are a big family. Up until today, we have never covered up any family member’s mistakes and have not permitted anyone else to cover them either,” he said.

Interior Minister Muammer Güler, Environment and Urban Planning Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar and Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, whose sons were detained on Dec. 17 as part of Turkey’s largest ever corruption investigation, are accused of being involved in a wide bribery network, including a number of prominent businessmen.

Another Cabinet member, Energy Minister Taner Yıldız, also emphasized that the government would be following up and waiting for the result of the ongoing legal process.

“A legal process in continuing and we are tracking it closely. Our government gets stronger because it acts correctly and achieves more capability to do right as it gets stronger. It will not do wrong in this case,” Yıldız stated, while speaking at a meeting regarding the electricity market, organized by the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO).

On Dec. 18, Bülent Arınç, the deputy prime minister and AKP spokesperson, said ministers who had been involved in the corruption investigation may leave their posts “if they are involved in a crime.”