Türkiye's High Tribunal has released its reasoned ruling in the corruption case against former Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz and former State Minister Güneş Taner, centering on the disputed Turkbank privatization tender.
The court found that Yılmaz bore criminal responsibility for his conduct throughout the entire Turkbank bidding process, from its opening stages to its conclusion.
Judges determined that the Treasury held legal authority to oversee the actions of the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), and that both the prime minister and relevant ministers carried responsibility for how the tender was handled.
The ruling emphasized that public office demands a standard of conduct above partisan interests, and that senior officials must maintain appropriate distance from bidding processes, avoiding personal interactions or remarks that could compromise the integrity of state procedures. Decisions in such processes, the court noted, must follow legally established channels rather than private-sector preferences.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.