Allegations of 'nepotism' at Ziraat Bank

Allegations of cronyism and nepotism at Ziraat Bank have sparked controversy.

CHP MP Cevdet Akay stated that relatives of Ziraat Bank Deputy Chairman of the Board Fikrettin Aksu were placed in the institution without taking any exams. It was alleged that Aksu's brother, Şener Aksu, was appointed as the manager of Ziraat Bank's Procurement Department.

According to a report in Birgün, the allegations made by CHP's Akay did not stop there. Akay reported that another of Aksu's relatives, Murat Bedir, was appointed as the Sivas Regional Manager. Reacting to the appointments, Akay said, "It is unacceptable for him to appoint his close relative to this position when there are many qualified people who could be appointed to this role." 

REFERENCES FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE

It was noted that Fikrettin Aksu and Ziraat Bank Chairman of the Board Burhanettin Tanyeri had 381 people hired by providing references for various parts of the bank, primarily the Erzurum Call Center, within three years. CHP's Akay emphasized that the identities of those who started working with the references of Aksu and Tanyeri should be disclosed.

"BROTHER PROPOSES, OLDER BROTHER APPROVES"

In his striking statement revealing the staffing practices at Ziraat Bank, Akay summarized the following:

"Ferhat Pişmaf, the Group Head responsible for Agricultural Loans at Ziraat Bank, has also continued to appoint his friends and relatives here. Ferhat Pişmaf appointed his brother, Rafet Pişmaf, as the Samsun Regional Manager. Regional Management is an important position; it has a certain authority in loan allocation. In cases where he exceeds his authority, the matter is referred to the general directorate and the deputy general manager responsible for loans on the Credit Committee. In other words, the brother proposes, and the older brother approves. If his limit is not enough, he will propose it to the higher level, and his older brother, Ferhat Pişmaf, will approve it. A separate investigation needs to be conducted regarding which companies these loans were extended to. 

"EXTENDED LOANS TO MALAZGIRT"

While these events were taking place, the Bank's General Manager, Alparslan Çakar, did nothing. But there is one thing. He extended a loan of 78 million 118 thousand 540 lira to the Malazgirt district municipality in his hometown of Muş, and this loan is still seen as unpaid. While public banks, especially Ziraat Bank, do not extend any loans to municipalities run by the Republican People's Party (CHP) or opposition parties, they continue to recklessly extend loans to AKP and People's Alliance municipalities."

"16 BILLION LIRA IN FOUR YEARS"

Akay also brought up the items of waste at Ziraat Bank while the Public Savings Measures Circular is being debated. Stating that the renovation of 400 branches was started within one year under the instruction of the Bank's General Manager, Akay continued his words as follows:

"The renovation cost of one branch is approximately 10 million TL. If we calculate, that makes 16 billion TL in four years. While there is so much extravagance and luxury vehicle purchases, the ministry is going after the shuttle buses of public servants. How will the civil servants commute? They are already crushed under the cost of living. Is this where you are going to make savings? 998 million TL in rent has been paid for public personnel shuttle buses in three months; the total of these payments will be around 4 billion TL per year. Abandon these renovation projects at Ziraat Bank; here is the source for you."

News Source: 12punto