Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu regularly used a private jet belonging to a businessman accused in the United States of heading a massive money-laundering scheme, Cumhuriyet columnist Tuncay Mollaveisoğlu said on Friday.
“Sources I spoke to suggest Soylu used Sezgin Baran Korkmaz’s super-luxury plane, especially during the election period,” Mollaveisoğlu said.
Korkmaz was detained in Austria on Sunday following a request by U.S. authorities. He is accused of laundering the proceeds of a scheme to fraudulently claim more than $500 million in subsidies from the U.S. government.
Turkish authorities are also seeking the extradition of Korkmaz in relation to the case, which allegedly saw $133 million pass through bank accounts controlled by the businessman in Turkey and Luxembourg.
Korkmaz used the money to fund an opulent lifestyle including private jets, yachts and luxury villas, U.S. prosecutors say.
Mollaveisoğlu said Soylu had treated Korkmaz’s $54 million Bombardier jet “like a taxi”.
The Interior Minister’s name would likely be found on the plane’s passenger list held by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM), the columnist added.
Soylu’s relationship with Korkmaz has come under growing scrutiny after convicted crime boss Sedat Peker accused the interior minister of warning the businessman he faced investigation, allowing him to flee the country.
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