Obama's BFF PM Erdogan defends Iranian Businessman Zarrab, suspected of leading bribery ring.(TZ).
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has praised Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab -- who stands accused of being the ringleader of a shady money-laundering and gold-smuggling ring set up to dodge sanctions against Iran -- for his contribution to the country's economy.
“Zarrab exports gold and I know that he is involved in charity activities as well,” Erdoğan said in a rally at İstanbul Atatürk Airport on Tuesday, after he returned from Pakistan.
Erdoğan said that if there were evidence against Zarrab, then why not catch him in the act and get video footage?
Fifty-two people, including bureaucrats, well-known businesspeople and the sons of three ministers, were detained on Dec. 17 in a corruption investigation that has shaken Turkey's political and business elite and pushed three ministers to resign on Wednesday.
Zarrab is alleged to have bribed three ministers and their sons a total of TL 137 million ($66 million) to help him disguise money laundering operations. Halkbank and its general manager, Süleyman Aslan, also under arrest, were involved in Turkey's gold trade with Iran.
“Is there any evidence that proves the relationship between what has been found in the [Halkbank general] manager's house and the bank? I have no doubt that he [Aslan] is innocent.”
Erdoğan went on to deny the allegations of corruption and called the investigation an attack on the government, society and the “national will.”
When asked if the probe was a bid to tarnish his reputation, the prime minister said anyone attempting such a thing would fail.Hmmmm.....'Sanctions that benefit'....Anyone?
Related: Much , much more here:
No comments:
Post a Comment