Judge Demands Meeting Details in Trial of Atilla
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New York Southern District Federal Court Judge Richard Berman has demanded Reza Zarrab and Mehmet Hakan Atilla’s lawyers that they submit him all meetings, messages and correspondences of all lawyers starting from the beginning of the arrest of two figures on the condition of not damaging “client-lawyer confidentiality”.
He is probing politicians’ relation with the case
According to a document released by Courthouse News reporter Adam Klasfeld, Judge Berman in his demand asks the lawyers for date of the meetings, names, reason for the meetings or correspondences and a detailed report of the results obtained.
Günaydın from New York.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) 18 Ocak 2018
The New York Times' @BenWeiserNYT scooped the world on this development: Judge Berman wants the details of contacts between Atilla and Zarrab's attorneys with Turkish and U.S. officials.
Screenshot of the full order here. pic.twitter.com/c2Zn8qc0GF
The judge supposedly tries to disclose the link of New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, former Minister of Justice Michael Mukasey and authorities from Turkey including President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with the case.
Berman will announce his verdict on April 11
Former Halkbank Deputy General Director Mehmet Hakan Atilla was found guilty of five counts of six charges by the jury committee. Atilla was acquitted of money laundering. It was decided that Judge Berman make his decision on April 11, 2018.
Following this decision, one of Atilla’s lawyers Victor J. Rosso said that they will appeal against this verdict after the hearing to be held on April 11. However, the experts say that the chance of Atilla to be acquitted is very low after jury’s decision. (PT/TK)