Turkish mafia leader held in France threatens to expose politicians

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

   ANKARA, Dec 8 (AFP) - A Turkish mafia leader held in a French  
jail threatened to reveal his links with Turkish political and 
business leaders, in an interview with the daily Hurriyet published 
Tuesday. 
   "If I go back to Turkey, it will be the turn of political and  
business leaders and bureaucrats to get worried. I am not completely 
innocent, but I have a greater sense of honour than certain Turkish 
leaders," said Alaattin Cakici from his prison cell in Marseille, 
southern France. 
   "I am happy to have been arrested in France, the most developed  
country in terms of democracy and human rights," Cakici said, adding 
that he would not appeal against a French court decision to 
extradite him to Turkey on condition a death sentence on him was not 
carried out. 
   Aged 45, Cakici, who has been on the run for 12 years, was  
arrested on August 17 in Nice by French police acting on two arrest 
warrants issued by the Turkish authorities. 
   His arrest sent tremors through Turkish political circles after  
he reportedly told police interrogators he had links with the 
Turkish intelligence service, the MIT. 
   In his interview with Hurriyet, however, he denied any links  
with the MIT or the Turkish state, or that he said any such thing 
during questioning. 
   Cakici was convicted in Turkey for attempted murder and wounding  
a bank manager and a journalist. He was also accused of ordering the 
murder of his wife. 
   The Cakici affair brought down the government of Mesut Yilmaz on  
November 25 on charges of mafia links. In September a minister of 
state without portfolio, Eyup Asik, resigned after press allegations 
he had links with Cakici. 
  	   	

List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl