The US Department of Justice has asked a federal court to dismiss the criminal case against Halkbank. The move follows a deferred prosecution agreement reached between prosecutors and the Turkish bank.
The motion to dismiss
In a filing submitted this week, the DOJ said it no longer intends to pursue charges against Halkbank. The government asked the judge to drop the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.
The request comes after the bank entered into a deferred prosecution agreement — a tool prosecutors use to hold a company accountable without a trial. Under such deals, the defendant typically admits to certain facts, pays a penalty, and agrees to compliance terms in exchange for charges being dropped later.
What a deferred prosecution agreement means
DPAs allow companies to avoid a criminal conviction if they meet conditions set by prosecutors. They are common in corporate fraud and sanctions cases, though the exact terms of this agreement have not been made public.
Prosecutors often cite the company's cooperation and remedial measures when seeking dismissal. In Halkbank's case, the DOJ did not detail what those measures were.
What happens next
The motion now goes to the judge overseeing the case. The court must approve the dismissal before it takes effect. A hearing date has not been set.
The case has been closely watched by legal observers and foreign governments. For now, the bank faces no further prosecution on the charges — at least in the United States.
