Turkish PM: No AK Party influence in graft panel decision

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Tuesday that his party had "never been involved by any means" in the parliamentary committee's decision not to try four former ministers accused of corruption.

A 14-member panel voted on Monday against sending four former ministers on corruption charges to trial before the Supreme Court, also known as the Constitutional Court.

Nine members voted against a trial and five voted in favor. The committee was composed of 14 lawmakers from different political parties. There were nine from the ruling AK Party, four from the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, and one member from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

"We respect the objective report of the committee and the final decision of the Grand Assembly," Davutoğlu said, speaking at his Justice and Development (AK) Party's parliamentary group meeting in the capital, Ankara.

He stressed that AK Party had never tried to influence committee members to vote against, or in favor, of a trial.

"However, the opposition parties made comments reflecting bias every day," Davutoğlu said.

In May 2014, the inquiry committee began its investigation into corruption allegations against former Economy Minister Zafer Cağlayan, former Interior Minister Muammer Güler, former Urbanization Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar and former EU Minister Egemen Bağış.

All four were linked to an anti-graft probe that was launched on December 17, 2013.

Now the Grand National Assembly of Turkey will give its final decision for or against the the trial of the ministers.

After the corruption inquiry committee issues a report of its findings to Parliament by January 9, lawmakers will vote by secret ballot in the General Assembly to determine whether the four former ministers will face trial for corruption.