Seven suspects arrested on bribery charges in coastal province of Mersin

MERSİN - Doğan News Agency

The suspects were detained after a fraud operation Jan. 10. AA photo

Seven of the 35 suspects, who were detained as part of a graft investigation conducted in the eastern Mediterranean province of Mersin, have been arrested Jan. 14.

Some six people were released before being taken to the courthouse while 22 suspects have been released pending trial following their testimonies at the court. All arrested suspects are customs officers, according to reports.

The probe was launched six months ago upon a complaint received by Trade and Customs Minister Hayati Yazıcı. The operation was conducted by the ministry’s Customs Protection on Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate after it was determined that six customs inspectors and four other officials were bribed by 25 people working in transportation companies. 

Mersin is a major center of trade and is home to the country’s largest port, as well as a free trade area.