Turkish finance minister says he has ‘limited info’ on corruption operation

ANKARA

AA Photo

Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek has stressed his “limited information” regarding the latest developments in the wide-ranging corruption investigation, which include taking the sons of three ministers into custody.

Şimşek also emphasized that the dismissal of five police commissioners from the Istanbul police department, including chiefs executing the corruption operation, was “not correct … if it was done to block conducting the probe properly.” However, he made clear that he did not know whether or not that was the case.

His comments came on Dec. 18 during budget debates for the fiscal year 2014 at Parliament’s General Assembly, where opposition deputies peppered him with questions on the issue.

Şimşek said it would “not be appropriate” for him to comment on the investigation, as the legal process is still under way.

He added that he had called Interior Minister Muammer Güler to ask why the police commissioners were dismissed, but was unable to reach him.

“The judiciary will do whatever is necessary for anyone who has made a mistake,” Şimşek said.