Turkish press yesterday

Turkish newspapers yesterday covered the sentencing to 27 years' imprisonment of a former Sümerbank owner for corruption, the National Intelligence Agency's (MIT) obtaining permission from a Diyarbakır court to monitor communications countrywide and the Dutch vote on the European Union constitution on Wednesday.

Radikal featured the performance of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in its opposition to the ruling government, and newspapers also underscored procedural changes after the coming into force of the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

Second-heaviest sentence for corruption case:

Praising a court finding former Sümerbank owner Hayyam Garipoğlu guilty of embezzlement and fraud and handing down a sentence of 27 years, three months and 15 days' imprisonment and a fine of YTL 107,168,868, Hürriyet said the sentence was the second heaviest rendered in such a corruption case.

The heaviest, which was given to Yurtbank's former owner, Ali Avni Balkaner, was a jail term of 34 years, seven months and a fine of YTL 69,000,000.

Reporting on the same issue, Milliyet said Turkish courts are tackling corruption cases one after another.

The daily reported that the court, which tried Garipoğlu in absentia, ruled for his arrest and informed border control to prevent him from going abroad.

Eight other bank owners are awaiting court decisions in corruption cases. The charges in these banking sector corruption cases have all been filed by the Turkish Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF).

Yeni Şafak said the Istanbul 8th Criminal Court said Garipoğlu used his bank as a tool to defraud depositors and prohibited him from engaging in banking for the same period as his sentence.

Reporting the issue as its lead story, Vatan said the court found Garipoğlu not guilty of forming an organized gang with intent to commit a crime and decided to extend a ban on Garipoğlu's overseas travel.