At least 18 Turkish nationals convicted of crimes in the Netherlands are living in freedom in Turkey, justice minister Ard van der Steur has said in answer to MPs questions.

Turkey does not deport its own nationals although the Netherlands can request the Turkish courts adopt the Dutch sentence.

The issue was raised by MPs following publication of photographs showing convicted human trafficker Saban Baran at a football match.

Baran fled the Netherlands while on prison leave to visit his new baby in 2009. At the time he was appealing against an eight year jail sentence for forcing over 100 women into prostitution, together with his brother.

Baran was sentenced to seven years and nine months in jail by a Turkish court for the crimes committed in the Netherlands but he remains on remand pending an appeal.

Of the 23 cases on which the Netherlands has asked Turkey to take action, just six have been dealt with, Van der Steur is quoted as saying by the Telegraaf.