Erdogan has cast the corruption scandal which erupted in December 2013, when he was still prime minister, as a plot to unseat him by his political enemies
(Adds opposition comment)
ANKARA, Jan 5 (Reuters) - A Turkish parliamentary commission voted on Monday not to send four former ministers accused in a corruption investigation to the Supreme Court for trial, effectively backing President Tayyip Erdogan after a scandal that rattled his inner circle.
Erdogan has cast the corruption scandal which erupted in December 2013, when he was still prime minister, as a plot to unseat him by his political enemies.
The affair led to the resignation of the ministers of the economy, the interior and urbanisation, while European Union Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis lost his post in a subsequent reshuffle. All four have denied wrongdoing.
The 14-member parliamentary commission, including nine members of Erdogan's ruling AK Party, was set up in May to study prosecutors' files alleging wrongdoing by the four ex-ministers.
A member of the commission from Turkey's main opposition party CHP branded the decision a cover-up.
"We've witnessed today in parliament how the biggest corruption scandal in Turkey's history has been covered up on the orders of the AK Party and the president. The outcome is saddening," CHP deputy Levent Gok told reporters.
The commission's decision must be debated by Jan. 30 by the parliament in full session, which will have the final say on whether the ministers are tried in the Supreme Court.
Turkey's immunity rules mean they can only face trial if parliament agrees.
(Reporting by Gulsen Solaker; Writing by Jonny Hogg; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Gareth Jones)
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