A Turkish prosecutor who went public on Thursday with allegations of police obstruction in a high-level corruption case had himself mishandled the proceedings and was therefore removed, his superior said.
Turhan Colakkadi, Istanbul's chief prosecutor, told reporters Muammer Akkas had leaked information to the media and had not given superiors timely updates on the case as required.
jpost.com
26/12/13
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Justice minister slams judges board over statement on judicial police regulation...
ReplyDeleteJustice Minister Bekir Bozdağ has slammed the statement from the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) describing the new judicial police regulation obliging those carrying out investigations to inform superiors as “unconstitutional.”
Bozdağ said Dec. 27 the judicial board did not have authority to make such a statement, adding it was made public without his knowledge.
The controversial regulation “clearly breached the constitution,” the HSYK said in its Dec. 26 statement, adding it also contradicts the principle of separation of powers.
“In a manner which contradicts the principle that no institution can use a prerogative not take its origin in the law, the Board has invented itself a task on a matter that is not stated in the law,” Bozdağ said in a written statement in his first day after taking office, succeeding Sadullah Ergin.
Bozdağ also noted a lawsuit was filed in the Council of State against the regulation announced on Dec. 21. “For a board whose basic principle is to protect the independence of the judiciary, to make a statement which contains an absolute conviction that a regulation facing a nullity suit is ‘unconstitutional’ contradicts the principles of rule of law and independence of the judiciary,” Bozdağ said.
The regulation triggered anger from lawyers and increased concerns on government intervention within the judiciary.
On Dec. 26, the head prosecutor on a second graft investigation also denounced pressure on the judiciary after he was removed from the case.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/justice-minister-slams-judges-board-over-statement-on-judicial-police-regulation.aspx?pageID=238&nID=60211&NewsCatID=338
27/12/13
I would judge the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors if I had authority: Turkish PM....
ReplyDeletePrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he would like to judge the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) over its stance against a governmental decree, if he had the adequate authority.
“From here, I am filing a criminal complaint [against the HSYK]. The HSYK has broken the law. They have violated article 138 of the Constitution by making a statement on [the change of the procedures of] law enforcement while a case on it was still continuing at the Administrative Court. Now I ask: who will judge the HSYK? Do you know who will do it? The people,” Erdoğan said during a conference in Sakarya on Dec. 27. “I would like to judge them, if I would have adequate authority.”
The HSYK said on Dec. 26 that the government’s initiative to change the procedures of law enforcement that obliges prosecutors and police chiefs to seek the consent of their supervisors before taking any action was unconstitutional. The Administrative Court annulled the decree the following day.
Erdoğan also took aim at Istanbul prosecutor Muammer Aktaş who harshly criticized the government for not allowing him to carry out a corruption operation allegedly worth 100 billion dollars. “Can a prosecutor distribute a statement in front of the courthouse? Can something like that happen? For us, this kind of a prosecutor is the black sheep of justice. How can you do this?” said Erdoğan.
“Now I ask the HSYK. I am also filing a criminal complaint about this prosecutor. What will you do or what did you do about this person?” he said.
Erdoğan continued his criticisms against the prosecutor and asked him “Who are you working for? If you do not explain it, we will release it.” .....................http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/i-would-judge-the-supreme-council-of-judges-and-prosecutors-if-i-had-authority-turkish-pm.aspx?pageID=238&nID=60233&NewsCatID=338
27/12/13
Kritik aus der EU wächst: "Erdogan hat seinen Zenit überschritten"....
ReplyDeleteNicht nur im eigenen Land verleiht der Korruptionsskandal den Kritikern des türkischen Ministerpräsidenten Recep Tayyip Erdogan Auftrieb. Brüssel und Berlin drängen auf Aufklärung.
Angesichts des Korruptionsskandals in der Türkei wird in Europa die Kritik an Ankara lauter. Nach dem für die EU-Beitrittsverhandlungen mit Ankara zuständigen EU-Kommissar Stefan Füle forderte auch Bundesaußenminister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) eine rasche Aufklärung aller Vorwürfe. Der CDU-Europapolitiker Elmar Brok, der Vorsitzender des Auswärtigen Ausschusses im Europaparlament ist, betonte, die Unabhängigkeit der Justiz sei dabei von zentraler Bedeutung.
Füle hatte am Freitag erklärt, er verfolge die Entwicklung in der Türkei "mit zunehmender Besorgnis". Die von der Regierung in Ankara beschlossenen Änderungen der Polizeiarbeit hätten "die Unabhängigkeit der Justiz und deren Handlungsfähigkeit untergraben". Er begrüße, dass das oberste Verwaltungsgericht die Maßnahmen ausgesetzt habe und hoffe auf eine baldige endgültige Entscheidung. Füle bekräftigte, die Justiz müsse unabhängig arbeiten können. Er sei über die Amtsenthebungen einer größeren Zahl von Polizisten besorgt.
Füle erinnerte die Türkei zugleich an ihre Pflichten als Beitrittskandidat und forderte die Regierung in Ankara auf, "alle nötigen Schritte zu unternehmen, damit die Vorwürfe von Rechtsverletzungen ohne Benachteiligung oder Bevorzugung transparent und unparteiisch aufgeklärt werden".
Steinmeier: "Bewährungsprobe für Rechtsstaatlichkeit"
Auch Bundesaußenminister Steinmeier drang auf Aufklärung. "Wir vertrauen auf die Kraft des türkischen Staates, dass die im Raum stehenden Korruptionsvorwürfe ohne Ansehen der Person aufgeklärt werden", sagte Steinmeier der Zeitung "Bild am Sonntag". "Das zu gewährleisten, ist Bewährungsprobe für jede auf Rechtsstaatlichkeit bauende Politik." Steinmeier betonte zugleich die Bedeutung der Türkei für Deutschland: "Für uns ist und bleibt die Türkei ein überaus wichtiger Partner. In der von Krisen und Konflikten gezeichneten Region des Mittleren Ostens wird eine nach innen und außen gefestigte Türkei als stabiler Anker gebraucht."
Derzeit steuert die Türkei nach Ansicht des CDU-Europapolitikers Brok allerdings auf sehr unsichere, instabile Zeiten zu. Er glaube, dass Ministerpräsident Recep Tayyip Erdogan "seinen Zenit überschritten hat", sagte Brok in einem Interview des Deutschlandfunks. Erdogan versuche, "alle Mittel einzusetzen", um an der Macht zu bleiben...............http://www.n24.de/n24/Nachrichten/Politik/d/4049274/-erdogan-hat-seinen-zenit-ueberschritten-.html
28/12/13
Prosecutor of second graft probe denies claims of leaking information to media...
ReplyDeleteThe head prosecutor of a second corruption investigation who was controversially removed from the case this week has denied Dec. 30 claims that he leaked confidential information regarding the probe files to the media.
“I have not leaked information or document to anyone without authority about any investigation that I conducted,” Muammer Akkaş said in a written statement.
Akkaş was on the target board of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who not only accused him of leaking information to media, but also claimed that he was using his position to go after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
"How is this, prosecutor? Hold on, we are not done yet. You distribute statements in front of the courtroom. What prosecutor comes out onto the street to distribute statements?”Erdoğan rehetorically asked during a rally this weekend referring to Akkaş.
Akkaş said that he had literally been exposed to a lynching campaign after he denounced “pressures” in a statement on Dec. 26 that prevented him of carrying out a corruption investigation reportedly larger than the one which implicated four government ministers.
“I had presented the situation to the public’s knowledge with a statement I made on Dec. 26 without targeting any specific person or institution or endangering the confidentiality of the investigation to the press which, as the European Court of Human Rights emphasizes in many decisions that is a must of a democratic society,” Akkaş said in his statement.
“What has been launched and turned to a lynching campaign after my statement and due to the expression used [against me], I felt the need of making a statement for a second time,” he added.
Akkaş had previously stated that police officers had been prevented to carry out arrest orders within his investigation was said to implicate key civil servants and prominent businessmen.
However, a tit-for-tat statement of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Turan Çolakkadı rejected claims of pressure. He also hold Akkaş responsible for the leaks to the media, an accusation which was picked up by many government officials, including Erdoğan.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/prosecutor-of-second-graft-probe-denies-claims-of-leaking-information-to-media.aspx?pageID=238&nID=60353&NewsCatID=341
30/12/13
Turkish gov’t vows to take action against judges and prosecutors’ board....
ReplyDeleteThe ongoing fight between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Fethullah Gülen community is entering a new phase as the government said it was working on a legal plan against wrongdoers in the judiciary, an overt reference to pro-Gülen judges and prosecutors.
“Not only with regard to the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors [HSYK], but our Justice Ministry will do whatever necessary – legal or judicial – against those who are in the wrong and causing chaos in Turkey by leaking confidential information about investigations and by distributing statements in front of the courthouse,” Bülent Arınç, a deputy prime minister and the government’s spokesman, told reporters Dec. 30 following a weekly Cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and senior government officials have been harshly criticizing the judiciary and some prosecutors over an ongoing corruption and graft probe that has implicated Cabinet members, ultimately resulting in last week’s resignations of the economy, interior and urban planning ministers. The government believes the corruption operation is being carried out by pro-Gülen community prosecutors and judges.
The fight was extended to the judiciary last week as the Council of State suspended the implementation of a governmental decree that hinders the secrecy of investigations. As the suspension came just a day after the HSYK’s intervention that said the decree was unconstitutional, the government directed all of its attention to the structure of the board, which was approved after a referendum in 2010.
“There must be consequences to the HSYK’s move that ignored its own regulation,” Arınç said.
Underlining that there was no check-and-balance system that could rein in the improprieties of the members of the judiciary, Arınç signaled that the government might reconsider the issue.
Arınç echoed Erdoğan’s self-criticism that giving broad immunity to the members of the HSYK was “a mistake” and expressed his disappointment in the HSYK’s statement. “By increasing the number of its members from five to 22, we thought that we were making a democratic body. We regarded this as an important step toward democratization,” he said.
Arınç said the government would take every necessary action against such illegal moves. “I can’t say at the moment whether a legal or constitutional change will be necessary. But whatever will be done, it will take place in the Parliament, the center of the national will.”
There are three powers, the government spokesman said. “Both the legislative and the executive are under judicial control. But which power is controlling the judiciary?”
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-govt-vows-to-take-action-against-judges-and-prosecutors-board.aspx?pageID=238&nID=60356&NewsCatID=338
30/12/13
What HSYK did should have a consequence: Deputy PM...
ReplyDeleteTurkish Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Bulent Arinc said, "Turkish Justice Ministry will do whatever necessary, legal or judicial, in a short time not only with Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), but also with the prosecutors who delivered [confidential] handouts [to the media] in front of a courthouse and those who serviced sealed documents to outside and those who abused their authorities for causing chaos which they want Turkey to confront."
Arinc spoke to reporters following a weekliy cabinet meeting on Monday, saying what HSYK did by ignoring its own law should have a consequence, referring to HSYK's statement during an ongoing trial concerning a new regulation which requires police forces to inform senior officers of any operation.
Asked if there was any legal regulation after the decision given by State of Council concerning Judicial Police Regulation, Arinc said this was an issue which occurred last week and received great criticism.
Noting that some issues in judicial police regulation were changed by Interior and Justice Ministry and published at Official Gazette, Arinc also said Turkish Bar Association and several agencies filed a lawsuit to suspend the execution and demand the annulment of the change in regulation.
Arinc also stated the issue was legal, adding "Of course, State of Council will inspect the issue and convenience of this issue to laws. We will respect to the decision given. However, an unexpected incident occurred and HSYK put forward an attitude a day before the decision. A number of members of HSYK made a statement which we met with astonishment and sorrow."
Touching on Criminal Procedure Law (CMK), Arinc said change of issues which take part in CMK was not in question, adding Justice Ministry did not have any effort concerning any change and retail of judgement is available only as a legal institute exists, by which relevant persons issue a demand when conditions come true.
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/headline/268884--aa
30/12/13
Türkische Regierung feuerte 350 Polizisten...... Premier Erdogan lässt bei der Exekutive aufräumen - vor allem in Abteilungen zur Korruptionsbekämpfung.....
ReplyDeleteDie von einem Korruptionsskandal erschütterte türkische Regierung hat laut Medien in der Nacht zum Dienstag 350 Polizisten vom Dienst enthoben. 80 der betroffenen Beamte seien in Führungspositionen der Abteilungen für Finanzkriminalität, für die Bekämpfung des Schmuggels und der organisierten Kriminalität bei der Polizei in Ankara angestellt gewesen, meldete die private Nachrichtenagentur Dogan.
Verhaftungen
Die Türkei wird derzeit von einem schweren Korruptionsskandal erschüttert. Im Zuge der Ermittlungen im Umfeld der islamisch-konservativen Regierung von Recep Tayyip Erdogan waren am 17. Dezember zahlreiche Verdächtige festgenommen worden, darunter die Söhne von drei Ministern, die daraufhin im Zuge einer Kabinettsumbildung ausgetauscht wurden. Bei dem Skandal sollen Politiker bestochen worden sein, um illegale Goldgeschäfte der staatlichen Halkbank mit dem Iran zu verdecken und um Genehmigungen für Bauvorhaben zu erwirken.
Machtkampf
Hinter der Affäre wird ein Machtkampf zwischen Erdogan und den Anhängern des in den USA lebenden islamischen Predigers Fetullah Gülen vermutet. Die Gülen-Bewegung gilt als besonders einflussreich in Justiz und Polizei. Sie steht eigentlich Erdogans Partei für Gerechtigkeit und Entwicklung (AKP) nahe, doch der Regierungschef brachte die Bewegung mit der Ankündigung gegen sich auf, Hunderte ihrer Schulen zu schließen. Präsident Gül stammt aus dem Erdogan-Lager, vertritt aber liberalere Positionen und soll Gülen nahe stehen. Bei der Präsidentenwahl heuer könnte er zu einem direkten Konkurrenten Erdogans werden, der Staatschef werden will.
http://kurier.at/politik/ausland/tuerkische-regierung-feuerte-350-polizisten/44.556.401
7/1/14