U.S. Department of Justice Asks to Drop Criminal Charges Against Halkbank
美國司法部要求撤銷對 Halkbank 的刑事指控
Introduction
The United States government has asked to dismiss long-term criminal charges against the Turkish bank Halkbank after completing a review of the bank's compliance with laws.
美國政府在完成對 Halkbank 遵守法律的審查後，要求撤銷對該土耳其銀行長期以來的刑事指控。
Main Body
The legal case began in 2019 when the U.S. Department of Justice accused Halkbank of six crimes, including fraud, money laundering, and breaking sanctions. These charges focused on a planned effort to hide money earned from Iranian oil and gas. This matter was eventually resolved through a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in March. U.S. officials emphasized that this agreement was useful because the Turkish government helped secure a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
此法律案件始於 2019 年，當時美國司法部指控 Halkbank 犯下六項罪名，包括欺詐、洗錢及違反制裁。這些指控集中在一個企圖隱藏伊朗石油與天然氣收益的計劃。此事最終於三月透過一份延期起訴協議 (DPA) 解決。美國官員強調，由於土耳其政府協助促成停火並釋放加薩的以色列人質，該協議具有實質作用。
To meet the requirements of the DPA, Halkbank hired a Turkish branch of Ernst & Young to perform a full audit of its internal rules. The final report showed that the bank followed all regulations; although some customers asked about transactions with Iran, the bank did not complete them. Consequently, on June 10, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton and Halkbank's lawyers sent a joint request to Judge Richard Berman, asserting that the bank has met all its obligations. They are now asking for the charges to be permanently dismissed.
為了滿足 DPA 的要求，Halkbank 聘請了安永 (Ernst & Young) 的土耳其分行對其內部規則進行全面審核。最終報告顯示該銀行遵守了所有規定；儘管部分客戶詢問有關伊朗的交易，但銀行並未執行。因此，於 6 月 10 日，美國檢察官 Jay Clayton 與 Halkbank 的律師向法官 Richard Berman 提交了一份聯合請求，聲明該銀行已履行所有義務。他們現在要求永久撤銷所有指控。
Conclusion
The nine-year legal battle is now waiting for a final decision from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
這場長達九年的法律之爭，目前正等待紐約南區聯邦地方法院的最終決定。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 The 'B2 Logic' Shift: From Simple to Complex Connection
At the A2 level, you usually connect ideas with simple words like and, but, or because. To move toward B2, you need logical connectors that signal a result or a contrast more professionally.
The Magic Word: "Consequently" In the text, the author doesn't say "So, they sent a request." Instead, they use:
"Consequently, on June 10... lawyers sent a joint request."
Why this matters for you: "Consequently" is a 'power word.' It tells the reader that the second action happened specifically because of the first one. It transforms a simple sentence into a formal argument.
Comparing the 'Bridge'
| A2 Style (Simple) | B2 Style (Sophisticated) |
|---|---|
| The bank followed the rules, so they asked to drop the charges. | The bank followed all regulations; consequently, they requested the charges be dismissed. |
| He didn't study, so he failed. | He neglected his studies; consequently, he failed the exam. |
💡 Pro Tip: The 'Semicolon' Trick Notice the punctuation in the text. When using B2 connectors like Consequently or Therefore, we often use a semicolon (;) or a full stop (.) before the word.
❌ Wrong: I was tired, consequently I slept. ✅ Right: I was tired; consequently, I slept.
Challenge Your Brain: Next time you want to say "So...", stop. Replace it with "Consequently," and add a comma after it. You have just upgraded your English from a basic conversation to a professional report.