Investigation Into Yilmaz And Five Former Ministers

As a result of the secret vote of yesterday, Parliament decided to set up three investigation commissions for former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, and former ministers Husamettin Ozkan, Gunes Taner, Cumhur Ersumer, Zeki Cakan and Cumhur Ersumer. The commissions may pave the way for trial before the High Tribunal. Motions for parliamentary probe were supported jointly by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Republican People's Party (CHP). Therefore, the High Tribunal process started for Yilmaz and Taner as to the Turkbank tender; for Ozkan and Onal regarding loans given by the Halkbank; and for Ersumer and Cakan with regard to energy tenders. Insatiable GreedWhile CHP Chairman Deniz Baykal attended part of the talks on the issue in Parliament, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan preferred to give a message in the group meeting of his party. Erdogan said, “Today, those, who exploited the nation with their insatiable greed, are ashamed.” Yilmaz and Taner did not use their right to defend themselves by not attending the sessions in Parliament. On the other hand Ozkan and Onal, who had previously announced that they would come to address the general assembly, changed their minds arguing that they could not defend themselves properly in 10 minutes. However, Ersumer and Cakan attended the session and defended themselves before deputies. Ersumer argued that he was questioned for 9 hours by the Parliamentary Anti-Corruption Commission but even a word of that did not take place in the resulting report. Cakan said that he was ready to defend his each and every signature. �