"Ex-Turkish Premier Defends Against Charges
SUZAN FRASER
Associated Press
ANKARA, Turkey - Former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, charged with corruption in a bid-rigging scandal that brought down his government seven years ago, defended himself Wednesday before Turkey's highest court, saying he had nothing to do with the deal and that the allegations were politically motivated.
Yilmaz, the first former Turkish prime minister to stand trial for alleged abuse of power in a country where corruption is endemic, is accused of rigging the privatization of Turkbank in favor of a media magnate with ties to a mafia boss.
The former prime minister insisted Wednesday he was not involved and said the privatization 'took place outside of my scope as prime minister.'"
More:AP Wire | 02/16/2005 | Ex-Turkish Premier Defends Against Charges
