Turkish minister confirms investigation report on key graft figure

The Customs Ministry's inspection board has prepared a report about the suspicious activities of companies tied to one of the central figures in the 2013 graft probe, Interim Customs Minister Cenap A?ç? has said, suggesting that the firms violated rules on the trading of Turkish currency.

Additional inspection on companies was demanded by the Undersecretariat of the Treasury as well as the finance and economy ministries, A?ç? said in response to a question by the Republican People's Party (CHP), without mentioning Reza Zarrab's name. 

CHP deputy Levent Gök had asked about the government's measures regarding an investigation file by the Customs Ministry over the controversial activities of Zarrab following a daily Hürriyet report. 

The ministry report said the import and export activities of several companies belonging to Zarrab, a controversial Iranian-Turkish businessman, were suspicious and should be investigated for possible money laundering, tax evasion and foreign trade manipulations. 

The report, which was prepared upon an order from then-Customs Minister Hayati Yaz?c? after the huge corruption probe that went public on Dec. 17, 2013, mentioned "highly suspicious" customs transactions in Zarrab's companies, which should be investigated by the Economy Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Financial Crimes Investigative Board (MASAK), and the Undersecretariat for the Treasury.

In particular, there is considerable suspicion about more than 100 tons of transit bullion trade made by Zarrab's companies over the course of two years with several companies. 

"Customs and Trade Chief Inspector Mehmet Ery?lmaz, who was assigned to investigate suspicious gold exporting, importing and transiting companies in 2011 and 2013...