CHP calls on finance minister to resign

CHP deputy group chairman Kemal Anadol noted that this was the first time in the history of the republic that a finance minister had faced such allegations, adding that he should resign.

Earlier, Unakitan failed to avoid a court case that had been opened on grounds that he had was involved with fake invoices before he entered politics, although he passed a law that included this crime within the scope of a tax pardon when he became finance minister.

However, Unakitan can only stand trial if his party supports the suspension of his parliamentary immunity. Otherwise, the trial will be postponed until the end of his parliamentary term.

One of the ministers close to Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Unakitan took initial steps to avoid the court case in the last months of 2003, when he enabled fake invoice crimes to be included in the tax pardon through a law known as the "Tax Peace Law," prepared by his ministry.

The Istanbul Second Aggravated Felonies Court refused to hear a case against Albaraka Turk’s partners and managers for abusing the Tax Procedures Law due to provisions contained in the Tax Peace Law. However, the case was then brought before the Supreme Court of Appeals. The high court overturned the Istanbul court’s verdict and decided that the crimes committed by Albaraka Turk’s partners and managers could not be included within the scope of the Tax Peace Law.

The Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that Unakitan and the other suspects were subject to penal liability. The court said it was possible to try the suspects for having made up fake documents within the statutory period of limitations, a crime that carries imprisonment of up to three years.

The case will be reopened as a result of the appeals court decision. If the lower court rules that Unakitan is subject to punishment and should stand trial, a preliminary report will be drafted asking Parliament to suspend his immunity. This report will be sent to Parliament via the Justice Ministry and the Prime Ministry.

CHP’s Anadol in a press briefing at Parliament on Monday raised the question of what the AK Party would do when Unakitan’s immunity is discussed in Parliament.

"We will see if the party considers postponing the suspension of his immunity until the end of this term or if he dares to go to court," said Anadol.

The AK Party, which controls two-thirds of the seats in Parliament, has to date resisted suspending parliamentary immunity and is expected to refuse to remove Unakitan’s immunity as well.