US prosecutors charge Halkbank over Iran sanctions

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) – U.S. federal prosecutors filed charges Tuesday against Turkish lender Halkbank in Manhattan federal court.

The six-count indictment includes conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

In a statement, the Southern District of New York indicted the bank over its alleged participation in a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions on Iran.

According to the statement, Halkbank will have to answer for its conduct in a U.S. court.

"The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty," said the statement.

In July, Hakan Atilla, 48, the former deputy director-general at the Turkish state lender, was released from a federal prison. He was sentenced in May 2018 in New York for violating U.S. sanctions on Iran.