Corruption, Corruption, Everywhere . . .

From the Turkish Daily News:

The Constitutional Court called for the executives of the opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, to be probed for financial irregularities in the accounts of the party, the third political party in Parliament to face criminal charges.

The top court announced that there were financial irregularities in the 1998, 2004, 2005 and 2006 accounts of the party, asking the Ankara Prosecutor's Office to launch criminal inquiries into the conduct of the top executives of the party.

The court also asked the Treasury to withdraw around YTL 900,000 from party coffers, noting that there were irregular payments amounting to that amount over the years.

The CHP's Parliamentary group deputy leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, said they had to respect the decision of the top court, adding that they would be addressing the deficiencies.

He also said that if any charges were laid against any official, party lawyers would defend them.

The investigation will not result in closure of CHP and does not include allegations of wrongdoing in regard to a CHP-intiated transfer of funds to Kanaltürk in exchange for the channel to run pro-CHP news (see April 22 post).