29 Mar 2024
Sunday 24 December 2017 - 14:10
Story Code : 287490

Turkish bankers New York trial on a break until next year

AP A New York jury deliberating the fate of a Turkish banker charged with helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions is off until after the holidays.

Federal court jurors in Manhattan finished a third day of discussions Friday in the trial of Halkbank executive Mehmet Hakan Atilla and were told to return Jan. 3.

Prosecutors say Atilla was the architect of a conspiracy that enabled Iran to begin evading U.S. economic sanctions in 2011. Atillas lawyer says he was a humble civil servant at the state-owned bank, one of Turkeys largest.

Turkish officials including the countrys president have criticized the prosecution and said testimony was coerced, an allegation the U.S. calls ridiculous.

The governments star witness was a wealthy gold trader married to a pop star.

Jurors have requested evidence and read-backs of testimony.
https://theiranproject.com/vdcjhae8yuqeoxz.92fu.html
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