Ankara Condemns US Prosecutors' Request for Prison Sentence Against Turkish Banker

A spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan strongly condemned the request by US prosecutors for a heavy prison sentence against a former official of Turkey's Halkbank. The court's ruling on Mehmet Hakan Atilla, who has been in US custody since last year on charges of violating sanctions against Iran, is set to be announced next week in Manhattan, with prosecutors asking for a sentence of up to 20 years. Ibrahim Kalin, Erdoğan's spokesperson, stated during a press conference on Thursday that they 'strongly condemn this and reject the court's decision, calling it a great injustice.' He described Atilla's case as a 'legal scandal.' The state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday that US prosecutors have requested a prison sentence of 15 to 20 years for Atilla. According to Atilla's lawyers, he is a 'victim of Reza Zarrab, the architect of this conspiracy.' Zarrab, who was arrested on similar charges, pleaded guilty months ago and cooperated with US prosecutors in hopes of a reduced sentence. Recently, Erdoğan referred to the case as a 'new coup attempt' in Turkey, as two witnesses in court claimed that senior Turkish officials, including Erdoğan himself, were involved in a scheme to help Iran launder money and receive payments for oil exports by violating US sanctions from 2000 to 2015. US prosecutors argue that while the US and the international community were working to prevent Iran from investing in its 'malicious and deadly' activities, including building a nuclear bomb and supporting terrorist groups, Atilla was a key player in undermining these efforts. Iran has denied efforts to build a nuclear bomb and support terrorists. Under US sanctions, Iran is barred from accessing the US financial system and using the US dollar for international banking transactions. Atilla's lawyers, while requesting leniency from the court, argue that his case does not involve 'treason against the US.' They state that a prison sentence could deprive his family, including his child, of seeing him for years. Reza Zarrab, an Iranian-born businessman accused of illegally transferring billions of dollars in currency and gold for the Islamic Republic, has confessed to his crimes and provided information to US authorities, appearing as a witness in Atilla's case. He has claimed that senior Turkish officials were involved in Halkbank's violations of US sanctions against Iran, actions that were conducted with Erdoğan's approval. Zarrab had hoped his sentence would be reduced by confessing, but recently another case emerged against him for allegedly offering a $45,000 bribe to his lawyer to smuggle alcoholic beverages and a mobile phone into prison.