Corruption Charges in Energy Sector Deepen

Charges of corruption in Turkey's energy sector deepened yesterday when businessman Ibrahim Selcuk, detained in the operation to investigate the Ministry of Energy, was found to have connections with Mafia leader Alaattin Cakici and Intelligence (MIT) official Kasif Kozanoglu. Selcuk, the owner of Ezgi Insatt (construction) company, was apparently using these connections to bribe and scare people to get what he wanted within the energy sector. So far 18 people have been detained under the operation.In a phone conversation in April, which was tapped on court order, MIT official Kozanoglu following direct orders from Selcuk instructed Hakki Suha Sen (the contractor of the former Appeals Court President) to have Cakici threaten a man named Cemal Agla. “A.Ç. (Cakici) should call Cemal and demand that he pay his debt to Ibrahim Sey. Otherwise, I will be on them, like a black cloud.” Kozanoglu said in the recorded phone call. The Ibrahim mentioned in the phone conversation was later found to be Ibrahim Selcuk. Other dark facts are surfacing from the investigation: Women were offered to bureaucrats during the daily operations in the Ministry of Energy. Three officers from the Swiss hotel are being investigated. Diamond rings with calling cards have been found is some offices of the bureaucrats in question. Selcuk was detained in the energy operation and is accused of paying bribes to get the Rehabilitation Tender of the Afsin-Elbistan tender. Muzaffer Nasiroglu, the Deputy President of Fernas Company and thee cousins of AKP Deputy Nezir Nasiroglu were also detained in the operation.�