TEMPO.CO, Ankara – Turkish administration has pushed the purge of official bodies after a corruption scandal involving Prime Minister Erdogan and his subordinates. After discharging hundreds of police officers and 20 prosecutors last week, the government has fired tens of officials from banking, telecommunication companies, and public televisions.
One of the officials is the Deputy Head of the Banking Supervisory Board (BDDK) and two heads of departments. Five heads of departments at Telecommunication Directorate (TIB) were also fired. About a dozen officials were also dismissed from Turkish public television TRT, including one head of department and one senior news editor.
The investigation is believed to be a relatiatory acts towards a previous investigation on alleged corruption involving sons of three ministers and Erdogan's youngest child Bilal.
Investigators believed that the corruption and bribery scandal includes gold smuggling, illegal trading with Iran, and several big real estate projects. Twenty four people were arrested by the police, including a government bank director and a number of business people close to Erdogan's incumbent party.
However, Erdogan accused that the investigation was a part of a judicial coup prior to a presidential election in August. He also denied the allegation that his youngest son, Bilal,34, was involved in the scandal.
REUTERS | GLOBAL POST | ABC
