Cem Uzan, currently in France where he is seeking asylum, once ran a business empire with his family which ranged from a leading mobile phone firm to cement and media companies. Drawing on powerful funding, he contested elections 8 years ago that brought the ruling AK Party to power.
The business empire fell apart in 2004 when financial authorities seized more than 200 of their companies in an effort to recover $5 billion in debts resulting from a bank collapse.
Uzan set up the right-wing Genc or Youth Party before the 2002 election and won 7.5 percent of the vote, though not enough to enter parliament. It ran a ubiquitous poster campaign, poured large amounts of money into building up local organizations and enlisted popular singers to promote the party.
Broadcaster CNN Turk reported Uzan's lawyer as pleading his innocence. It was not clear if he was launching an appeal. Court officials were not immediately available to confirm the verdict.
Uzan has said previously charges against him are politically motivated.
