CHP's new documents pressure Turkish watchdog pres

CHP's parliamentary group leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, on Monday came up with three new documents displaying Akman's commercial activities in a pro-government TV station and another media agency.

Akman, whose name was first announced in connection with the case against Deniz Feneri e.V. in Germany, earlier denied claims that he violated the law by engaging in commercial activities during his presidency of the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK).

In the Deniz Feneri e.V. case, viewed as the biggest charity scandal in German history, a court in Frankfurt jailed three managers from the charity's German branch for directing 14.5 million euro ($20.6 million) of donated funds collected from the Turkish community in Germany into private companies.

Several people based in Turkey; including Akman, were implicated as the masterminds amid claims that the charity, whose founders are close to the ruling government, might have funneled funds into the prime minister's Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The first notarized document Kilicdaroglu released on Monday, claimed that Akman had authorized Zekeriya Kahraman, the chief of pro-government TV station Kanal 7, for all commercial transactions.

"This proves that Akman's real boss is Kahraman. This is the document of homage," Kilicdaroglu was quoted by Hurriyet Daily News (HDN) as saying.

The second document was the Commercial Register Gazette's Jan. 3, 2008, issue where Akman appeared among the partners of a media agency, along with Kahraman and a former Virtue Party (FP) deputy, Hasan Huseyin Ceylan.

Kilicdaroglu argued that Akman clearly violated the law, drawing attention to RTUK law that does not allow board members to have any links to any TV or radio organizations.

The third document Kilicdaroglu presented showed Akman had counterfeited legal documents and falsified his signature. Kilicdaroglu revealed two different notarized documents that had two different signatures under Akman's name.

"Even with the naked eye you can identify one of them is fake. There is no need for a criminal investigation. How can Akman overlook someone else signing for him? How can the RTUK president, who should be protecting public values, protect counterfeiting?" Kilicdaroglu asked.

"Akman should resign. He should leave his seat and undergo trial. But I think he will benefit from the support of the prime minister and stay in his seat," Kilicdaroglu said.

Earlier in September in a televised interview, Akman said that Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, gave him full support.

Meanwhile CHP deputies at RTUK appealed to Ankara for Akman's removal from office over claims that he transgressed rules. Their former demand for Akman's resignation was turned down by a vote of five to three at the RTUK board in September.

Photo: AA