Turkey made a second list of participants of scale corruption scandal

The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that the prosecutors made a second list of suspects in the investigation of large-scale corruption case that shook the country and provoked a government crisis.

In the second list there are 41 names. Among the suspects were many influential Turkish and foreign businessmen. The prosecutor's office suspects them of funding criminal organizations, bribery, fraud tenders, forgery of official documents, "cleansing accounts of crime" and threats, reported www.newsru.co.il.

Among others, the list includes Nihat Ozdemir, head of the group Limak, which is part of the consortium that won the tender for the construction of a third airport in Istanbul. Under suspicion was proved Saudi businessman Yasin al-Qadi , in the past accused of terrorist financing , as well as the owner of a trading network BIM Mustafa Latif Topbas .

The list includes also Orhan Kemal and Omer Faruk Kalioncu, executives of Calyon Company, and Jalal Kologlu of the company Colin. Both firms are members of the consortium for the construction of the airport with Limak.

Another name on the list is the businessman Abdullah Tivnikli, partner of Bati AS Hati, which holds contracts with the Russian Gazprom. Abdullah Kavukcu, partner of the popular coffee shop chain, is also among the suspects.

Investigation of corruption cases triggered large-scale changes in the government of Turkey. Following the Ministers of the Interior, Economy and Ecology, who resigned in the corruption scandal, Erdogan debarred from office Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EU Affairs, as well as the Ministers of Justice, Transport, Family Policy, Sport and Industry. Under investigation are influential Turkish tycoons.

The government, for its part, removed from office many police officers, including the police chief of Istanbul, suspecting them of the pursuit of other interests in the criminal case on corruption.

Prime Minister Erdogan accused foreign governments of plotting against him. 

ANN.Az