Turkish Parliament Votes Against Sending Former Ministers to Court

ANKARA, January 21 (Sputnik) – The Turkish parliament voted against bringing to court former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan and former Interior Minister Muammer Guler, accused of corruption.

Turkey's parliament on Tuesday reviewed a report from the parliamentary commission, concerning the country's four former ministers, including Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, Interior Minister Muammer Guler, European Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis and Environment and Urban Planning Minister Erdogan Bayraktar.

The majority of the parliamentarians decided against further prosecuting Guler and Caglayan. On the Guler case, 264 votes were against taking the former minister to court, while 242 were in favor. On the Caglayan case, 241 votes supported bringing the minister before court, with 258 opposing the move. Voting on two other ministers is expected later.

In December 2013, Turkish authorities conducted an anti-corruption operation that resulted in the arrest of a number of officials, businessmen and their relatives over suspicions of fraud, bribery and abuse of power. Caglayan, Guler, Bagis and Bayraktar all resigned after being accused of corruption.