Businessperson facing fraud charges in Turkey, US to remain under arrest in Austria

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A court in Wels, Austria ruled Sezgin Baran Korkmaz, a businessperson facing fraud and money laundering charges in Turkey and the US, shall remain under arrest until the next hearing on August 5.

Korkmaz was arrested in Austria on June 19 at the request of the US.

While both Washington and Ankara seek his extradition, the court didn't examine these requests in today's (July 5) hearing.

Utah prosecutors have charged a network of several people, including Korkmaz, for illegally obtaining 470 million dollars by defrauding the US Treasury.

Some 133 million dollars of this money was laundered in Turkey as many transactions between the countries have been documented, according to the indictment.

With the money inquisition, Korkmaz and his accomplices bought Borajet airlines company, hotels in Turkey and Switzerland, a yacht named "Queen Anne" and many residences in İstanbul, according to the prosecutors.

There is also an investigation against Korkmaz in Turkey for money laundering and fraud. The Ministry of Justice has formally sent a request to the Vienna Provincial Court.

Korkmaz's attorney Volkan Dülger previously said that his client wanted to be extradited to Turkey rather than the US.

Korkmaz and bribery allegations

Mob boss Sedat Peker, who released a series of controversial videos on state-mafia relations in Turkey in May and June, made allegations about Korkmaz in a video on June 6.

He claimed that Korkmaz visited Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu at his office one day before he departed from Turkey, despite having an arrest warrant against him.

He also talked about a recording of a phone call between journalist Veyis Ateş and Korkmaz and questioned how Ateş was able to afford to stay at a luxurious hotel owned by Korkmaz.

Later, Korkmaz said Ateş had asked him for a bribe of 10 million Euro during the phone conversation, the recording of which was released on Twitter by journalist and MP Ahmet Şık on June 21.

Ateş claimed that the recording was created by combining parts from several conversations and denied that he requested money from Korkmaz.

In the recording, a person who is believed to be Ateş says "a lobby, a clique" was responsible for the investigation against him but he can get away with that if he proves his "sincerity."

When Korkmaz asks what the proof is, he replies, "10 million Euro."

It's not clear on whose behalf Ateş was negotiating with Korkmaz.

(PT/VK)