CHP sends delegation to monitor Zarrab case in the US

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The main opposition People's Republican Party (CHP) will send a delegation to the U.S. to attend the hearing of Reza Zarrab, an Iranian-Turkish businessman who was arrested in Florida last week, in a bid to observe the case closely, the party's deputy parliamentary group chair said March 28.

CHP parliamentary group chair Özgür Özel said the mission, which was initiated by CHP leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu, will be carried out by CHP Prison Commission members Veli A?baba and Nurettin Demir, along with himself, as the three will head to the U.S. next week to attend the first hearing in which Zarrab will be tried on multiple charges of breaching U.S. sanctions on Iran.

"If he [Zarrab] needs, if cold air comes in through the door, we can bring him a towel from Muammer Güler, which he can put against the door. Or we can bring Egemen Ba???'s most sincere prayers. We can bring pies in exchange for Zafer Ça?layan's wrist watch. We asked Mr. Ça?layan what to bring [for Zarrab], and he said 'Why are you asking me? Our President [Recep Tayyip Erdo?an] is the one who knows everything. Tell him what is needed to go and he will send them.'" Özel said, referring to former Justice and Development Party (AKP) ministers whose names were involved in the country's biggest corruption scandal on Dec. 17, 2013, along with Zarrab.

As part of the Dec. 17, 2013 probe, four former cabinet members, Economy Minister Ça?layan, Interior Minister Güler, European Union Minister Ba??? and Urban Minister Erdo?an Bayraktar were accused of large-scale corruption but charges against them were later dropped. 

Zarrab was also embroiled in the probe on charges of being the ringleader of a money laundering and gold smuggling ring in Turkey that circumnavigated sanctions...

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