Turkish deputy prime minister says the U.S. case against Turkish banker Hakan Atilla lacks legal basis
The ongoing case of Turkish former Halkbank Deputy General Manager Hakan Atilla in the United States, who has been charged with allegedly evading U.S. sanctions on Iran, is proof of the collaboration between the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. judiciary, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Bekir Bozdağ said in a televised appearance on Turkish broadcaster TVNET.
“This case is concrete evidence of the collaboration between FETÖ, FBI, CIA and the U.S. judiciary.”
On Wednesday, a jury in New York found Atilla guilty on five counts related to conspiracy and bank fraud but acquitted him of a money laundering charge.
Answering the questions of TVNET news director Ahmet Rıfat Albuz, Bozdağ said that FETÖ, FBI and the U.S. judiciary “were caught red-handed” in their collaboration.
Bozdağ said that while gold trader Reza Zarrab was the only defendant in the case, he suddenly became a witness, which the deputy premier implied was a situation changed by the U.S.-FETÖ partnership.
In a secret court hearing on Oct. 26, Zarrab pleaded guilty and became a cooperating witness. When asked last week on why he decided to give evidence, Zarrab said “Cooperation was the fastest way to accept responsibility and to get out of jail at once.”
Zarrab was arrested in the U.S. last year on fraud and Iran sanctions-related charges. An investigation into Zarrab launched by Istanbul’s top prosecutor is currently underway.
“Evidence violating the law cannot be accepted as an evidence. This case lacks legal basis,” Bozdağ noted.
Bozdağ continued by saying, “It is clear that this is a political case conducted by the joint partnership of FETÖ, CIA, FBI and the U.S. jurisdiction, and they will not achieve their aim to damage Turkey’s economy.”
He said that the U.S. verdict in the case has greatly damaged Turkey-U.S. relations, and may have a negative impact on all future operations.
“Turkey has had no business or transactions that violate international agreements and the resolutions made by the United Nations. Halkbank has also not conducted business and transactions against these. No U.N. resolution is being violated.”
Regarding the FETÖ terrorist organization, “FETÖ is for Turkey what Osama bin Laden is for the U.S.,” Bozdağ stated.
“The U.S. has never extradited any terrorist to Turkey, although it is aware that Fetullah Gülen is the ringleader of FETÖ,” Bozdağ remarked.
FETÖ terrorists are led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen, who orchestrated Turkey's July 15 coup attempt and is the mastermind behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
