ANKARA (CIHAN) - Turkish deputies voted on Tuesday to send two former state ministers before the Turkish Supreme Court of Justice.
Turkish parliamentarians have voted in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) either to send ex-ministers of state before the Turkish Supreme Court of Justice or to drop the accusations against two former ministers.
356 lawmakers voted in favor of sending the former State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Hüsamettin Özkan and former State Minister Recep Önal before the Turkish Supreme Court of Justice. 34 deputies voted against proposals. The investigation file is required to send to the Turkish Constitution court which will try the ex-ministers of state under the title of Turkish Supreme Court of Justice.
Turkish deputies discussed the investigation proposals on the former State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Hüsamettin Özkan and former State Minister Recep Önal on Tuesday and to decide to take them before Turkish Court of Justice.
276 out of 550 lawmakers at least are needed to approve the investigation proposals to pave the way of bringing former state ministers before the Turkish Supreme Court of Justice.
The Turkish parliamentary Corruption Investigation Commission advised last month that the former State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Hüsamettin Özkan and former State Minister Recep Önal should be brought before the Turkish Supreme Court of Justice.
According to the investigation proposals, the former State Minister, Hüsamettin Özkan, who was responsible for the Halk Bank, and the former Treasury Minister, Recep Önal, were charged with not fulfilling the requirements of the reports prepared by the Supreme Supervision Committee and the Banks Observers, and of causing financial loss to the state.
The procedure which leads to the appearance of a state minister before the Turkish Supreme Court of Justice is a lengthy one. An investigation proposal signed by 55 MPs is presented to the Turkish Parliament. The general committee of the TGNA discusses the investigation proposal and votes whether to adopt the proposal or not. The regulations of the parliament rule that the investigation proposal must be finalized in 1 month. If the general committee of the parliament adopts the proposal, the investigation commissions are established. The investigation commissions have to prepare the report concerning the allegations within a period of 4 months. The finalized report will then be read out before the general committee of the TGNA and will be voted on. If 276 deputies vote YES, the accused ministers will then appear before the Supreme Court of Justice.
In its history, Turkish parliament has brought 13 former state ministers and deputies before the Turkish Supreme Court of Justice. 5 defendants were acquitted of the charges while 8 defendants were convicted by the Turkish Supreme Court of Justice.