Former Turkish PM rejects corruption charges

The 58-year-old politician is on trial with his former economy minister Gunes Taner, 56, after the parliament, dominated by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), voted to send them to court following a lengthy house inquiry into corruption allegations in the last decade.

Yilmaz denied that he had rigged Turkbank’s privatisation for a pre-determined winner and argued he was unaware that an underworld figure had intervened in the process to scare off other bidders.

"There was no meddling whatsoever on my part as a prime minister," Yilmaz said, arguing that other government agencies were in charge of the tender process.

The charges are part of a "politically-motivated conspiracy," he said.