In a major process of illegal business between Turkey and Iran, a New York court has pleaded guilty to Turkish banker Mehmet Hakan Atilla. Atilla, who formerly served as vice of state-owned Turkish Halkbank, is said to have allowed Iran to circumvent US government’s financial sanctions through illegal transactions in billions of dollars. Between 2010 and 2013, Turkey is said to have paid Iranian gas and oil supplies with large amounts of gold.
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The jury found banker guilty of five out of six charges, including accusation of conspiracy. The sentence has yet to be announced.
Against Atilla, Turkish-Iranian gold trader Reza Zarrab had testified. Originally trial had been directed against Zarrab, but 34-year-old gold trader had known himself guilty and had occurred as a burden witness. According to his testimony in courtroom, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was known to have been aware of Turkish gold business against Iranian oil and to have instructed two Turkish banks to participate in transactions.
Erdoğan denies, however, that Turkey has violated US sanctions. According to a report by New York Times, Erdoğan is supposed to have tried to recruit US government to proceed. The fortune of gold trader Zarrab caused Turkish judiciary to seize.
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On Tuesday, competent Judge Richard Berman had refused a request from Atillas defenders to declare trial invalid due to procedural errors. The proceedings were “fair and transparent”, Berman justified his decision.
