In Iran Sanctions Case, a Clash Over Turkish Banker’s Role<br />The biggest talking point for the Turkish authorities arose when a defense lawyer in the Manhattan trial cited a letter to a Turkish<br />judge from Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based Muslim preacher whom Mr. Erdogan accuses of being behind a failed coup last year.<br />It was during the cross-examination of Mr. Korkmaz in Manhattan<br />that the defense lawyer mentioned the letter, which is said to be from Mr. Gulen to a Turkish criminal judge, Mustafa Baser, appealing for the release of prisoners.<br />The 2013 Turkish investigation forms the core of the case in Manhattan against Mr. Atilla,<br />leading the Turkish government to denounce the trial as politically motivated.<br />16, 2017<br />It was on Thursday when lawyers for a Turkish banker on trial in Manhattan federal court told the judge<br />that their client would take the stand the next day, to testify on his own behalf.<br />Mr. Fidan said the order appeared to have been followed: After receiving the letter, Judge Baser<br />and another judge, Metin Ozcelik, released the prisoners.<br />An Istanbul prosecutor released what he said was the letter, saying it was clear evidence<br />that Mr. Gulen had intervened to influence the judicial process in Turkey.<br />Mr. Korkmaz, in his testimony, denied any links to the Gulen movement and said he had no knowledge of the letter.
