MOSCOW, April 11 (RAPSI) – Turkey’s Constitutional Court on Friday annulled parts of a law tightening government control of the judiciary, according to Reuters.

The court said in a statement that it had annulled the articles that granted the justice minister powers over the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), which is responsible for making judicial appointments. According to Reuters, this has dealt a heavy blow to a reform that critics saw as part of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s bid to suppress a corruption scandal.

In early January, the Turkish government dismissed 350 police officers from key posts, including the heads of main police departments in 16 provinces and the heads of the financial crime, smuggling and organized crime departments.

The dismissals came amid a loud corruption scandal, which erupted after the police detained a score of businessmen, officials and their relatives on December 17 on suspicion of malpractice at state tenders, abuse of office and bribe-taking. Three members of the Turkish government whose children were enmeshed in the scandal submitted resignations. A week after that, Erdogan replaced 10 ministers.