Cavusoglu, Tillerson to discuss Turkish banker's arrest

By Emin Avundukluoglu and Dilara Zengin

ANKARA (AA) - Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Rex aTillerson will discuss the arrest this week of a senior Turkish banking official in New York it was confirmed on Wednesday.

U.S. prosecutors on Tuesday accused Halkbank's deputy CEO, Mehmet Hakan Atilla, of violating American sanctions against Iran, according to a statement by Joon Kim, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

In an interview with state-broadcaster TRT Haber on Wednesday, Cavusoglu said he would oppose the arrest and raise the issue with Tillerson in Ankara on Thursday.

"For sure, we will propose it for the agenda. We will ask [Tillerson] what this issue was," Cavusoglu said.

Cavusoglu also said Atilla had been unable to contact lawyers or family members.

He said the CEO had been arrested on an indictment filed by former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara, who Cavusoglu accused of having “close relations” to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

FETO is accused of being behind the July 15, 2016, coup attempt in Turkey.

Bharara was fired March 11 by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Turkish Consulate General in New York was closely following the process, Cavusoglu told TRT.

It is believed a hearing will take place April 10.

Turkey's state-run lender Halkbank confirmed Wednesday its deputy CEO had been detained in New York.

In a statement to Borsa Istanbul, the country's main stock exchange, the bank said Atilla, who is in charge of international banking at Halkbank, was taken into custody Tuesday in the United States, where he was visiting on business.

"After the first hearing, the prosecutor's office has been given time to prepare an indictment," the Turkish lender said.

"When information is obtained, it will be released to the public immediately.

"Accordingly, the public is kindly reminded that no attention should be paid to speculative news and comments apart from information issued by our bank and authorities," Halkbank said.