THE Turkish embassy in Canberra has passed on to authorities details of West Australian Liberal senator Ross Lightfoot's January trip to Iraq and Turkey. Senator Lightfoot revealed in a travel report presented to the Senate that he crossed the border from Iraq into Turkey in January by making a payment in US dollars. His travel report said: "Cleared Turkey Customs after much trouble. Payment of US$ facilitated my egress." | "Note to self: save receipt of bribe for travel voucher" |
Second Secretary Zafer Ates said today the embassy had forwarded details of Senator Lightfoot's trip to Turkey. But he said Senator Lightfoot had made a number of other statements contradicting the report, making it difficult for authorities to investigate. "It is self-evident that any such action ... constitutes a crime in Turkey," Mr Ates said. "The details of this `allegation' have already been forwarded to Turkey. However, there are contradictory statements of the person in question that have taken place in the Australian media. Therefore, in my view, it would be difficult and hardly appropriate to follow up these allegations in (the) judicial process." | Besides, it would be embarassing to admit that Turkish Customs officials take bribes, er, accept tips. |
Senator Lightfoot has also been accused of taking $25,000 into Iraq, conducting business while on a taxpayer-funded trip and carrying a concealed weapon while he was in that country. While he has confirmed he accepted use of a .38 calibre pistol, he has denied taking the money into Iraq or conducting business on behalf of oil giant Woodside. Woodside has also denied the allegation. |