Zarrab's trade activities suspicious, says Turkey's official corruption probe report

A Customs Ministry report has shown that the import and export activities of several companies belonging to controversial Iranian-Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab 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 five companies, two in Dubai and three in China.

Even though the report, which has been seen by daily Hürriyet, was finalized back in Aug. 8, 2014 and presented to ministry officials, no official steps have been taken about the claims for approximately 11 months.

Zarrab?s company Volgam G?da, which was recently awarded for its jewelry exports in 2014, was determined in the company?s records to have sold a total of 384 million Turkish Liras of commodity and service to a foreign company named Tosea Tejarat in 2013. This is seen as suspicious because Volgam G?da is not registered as having conducted any imports, exports or transit transactions in the same year with the same company, according to the report. 

Charges against Zarrab, who was accused of paying bribes to senior government figures in a scheme that allegedly involved Bar?? Güler, the son of former Interior Minister Muammer Güler, and Salih Kaan...