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Government Rocked By Waves Of Corruption

During the past decade Turkey has undergone a significant economic transformation. While further economic growth is expected, commentators have been shocked by recent alarming allegations.

On December 17 2013 a corruption scandal emerged in Istanbul. The investigation commenced after Iranian gold merchant Riza Sarraf was mentioned on the suspect list of the Illicit Money Report prepared by the Turkish Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) in 2008. In light of the report, the Public Prosecution Office issued criminal charges for corruption and other white-collar crimes against 49 individuals, including bureaucrats, several distinguished businessmen, a mayor of Istanbul and the sons of three ministers. A second wave of arrests followed on December 25 2013, with an investigation into the son of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and many others.

Corruption has been seen as one of the greatest challenges to Erdoğan’s 11-year reign. However, as at the earlier Gezi Park protests, he has declared that blame lies with the ‘parallel state’ that he claims is attempting to take hold of both the judiciary and police organisations in Turkey.

The full version of this article can be read here: Government rocked by waves of corruption


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