Judge OKs Turkish banker’s conviction in US sanctions case

NEW YORK – A New York judge says it was reasonable for a jury to conclude last month that a Turkish banker helped Iran evade U.S. economic sanctions.

Federal Judge Richard Berman issued a written ruling Wednesday declining a defence request to toss out the jury’s findings against Mehmet Hakan Atilla.

The deputy general manager at Turkey’s state-run Halkbank was convicted of multiple conspiracy charges and bank fraud. He was acquitted of a money laundering charge. He awaits sentencing.

His lawyers had asked the judge to overturn the verdict on grounds that prosecutors failed to prove Atilla knew of a U.S. connection to the sanctions-evading scheme or was connected to multiple conspiracies.

Berman said he carefully reviewed the trial record and concluded the evidence was clearly sufficient for jurors to convict Atilla.