US Embassy "Helped" for Turkish Ex-President's Nephew Release
Politics | January 5, 2005, Wednesday
Burgas police keeps in the arrest Mehmet Zafer Arikan, who was seized together with ex-Turkish President's cousin Murat Demirel and his wife Aysenur Esenler Dec 31 in an attempt to enter Bulgaria illegally. Photo by bulphoto.com
The US Embassy helped for the release of the nephew of former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, Yahya Murat Demirel, who was arrested December 31 along with two other Turkish citizens by the border authorities in the coastal city of Burgas, media says.
The CNN Turk reported that due to the assistance of US diplomats Yahya Murat Demirel and his wife have already rented a flat in Sofia. Yahya Murat Demirel hold a US Passport and that is reason for the help offered to him by the US Embassy in Bulgaria, CNN Turk explained.
US Embassy to Sofia, however, denied the statements as "untrue".
Bulgarian authorities seized the Turkey-flagged "Rizah Terzioglou" ship, after discovering on its board three illegally traveling people with forged identity papers. After a thorough check on board of the ship, border police disclosed large bulks of antidepressants and amphetamines. Legal proceedings were initiated immediately against the three Turkish nationals.
According to Bulgarian authorities, the Turkish crew tried to bribe them to avoid check on board offering EUR 40,000 and later EUR 100,000. During the interrogation in court Murat Demirel refused to have offered a bribe to Bulgarian officers, claiming his gestures and broken Bulgarian language had been misunderstood.
It turned out that the sedatives were US medicine for heart disease used by Demirel's wife and the quantity found did not exceed the allowed by law.
Demirel is not allowed to leave Bulgaria and his passport is confiscated till the case is over.
In his country Murat Demirel and his wife Aysenur Esenler are being prosecuted for draining USD 1.2 B from the Turkish Egebank. The presidential nephew used to be on the board of directors of the bank. The two spouses has an effective ban to leave Turkey.
Turkish authorities are expected to ask for the extradition of Demirel, Esenler and Mehmet Zafer Arikan, the third arrested in Burgas.
The CNN Turk reported that due to the assistance of US diplomats Yahya Murat Demirel and his wife have already rented a flat in Sofia. Yahya Murat Demirel hold a US Passport and that is reason for the help offered to him by the US Embassy in Bulgaria, CNN Turk explained.
US Embassy to Sofia, however, denied the statements as "untrue".
Bulgarian authorities seized the Turkey-flagged "Rizah Terzioglou" ship, after discovering on its board three illegally traveling people with forged identity papers. After a thorough check on board of the ship, border police disclosed large bulks of antidepressants and amphetamines. Legal proceedings were initiated immediately against the three Turkish nationals.
According to Bulgarian authorities, the Turkish crew tried to bribe them to avoid check on board offering EUR 40,000 and later EUR 100,000. During the interrogation in court Murat Demirel refused to have offered a bribe to Bulgarian officers, claiming his gestures and broken Bulgarian language had been misunderstood.
It turned out that the sedatives were US medicine for heart disease used by Demirel's wife and the quantity found did not exceed the allowed by law.
Demirel is not allowed to leave Bulgaria and his passport is confiscated till the case is over.
In his country Murat Demirel and his wife Aysenur Esenler are being prosecuted for draining USD 1.2 B from the Turkish Egebank. The presidential nephew used to be on the board of directors of the bank. The two spouses has an effective ban to leave Turkey.
Turkish authorities are expected to ask for the extradition of Demirel, Esenler and Mehmet Zafer Arikan, the third arrested in Burgas.
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