Ex-minister held on money laundering charges

Page last updated at 11:19 GMT, Monday, April 16, 2012 - 16:19 EST

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Reuters:

Former socialist minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos walks towards a police car after he was arrested in his luxurious neo-classical ma

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A Greek prosecutor decided on Monday to jail a former defence minister pending trial on money laundering charges in the most high-profile case against a politician in decades of corruption scandals.

Corruption and cronyism are endemic in Greece, but no politician has been tried or convicted in recent years, something that has fuelled popular frustration with established parties ahead of a general election on May 6.

"The prosecutor and the judge both decided (on) a pre-trial detention for ex-defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos," a court official said on condition of anonymity. He has been detained at police headquarters since his April 11 arrest and will be sent to jail on Tuesday, the official said.

Tsohatzopoulos, who has held various portfolios including defence since the 1980s, faces felony charges in relation to property deals and possible tax violations.

"He denied any wrongdoing to the judge today," a source close to Tsohatzopoulos told Reuters.

Read the whole story: Reuters

Watch from Skai (in Greek) - Κρίθηκε προφυλακιστέος ο Α. Τσοχατζόπουλος

Η απολογία του Α. Τσοχατζόπουλου

Comments

Maybe a week, maybe less?

April 16, 2012 by Jim Adams (United States ), 1 year 4 weeks ago

So what do you think? A week? Ten days? Or maybe less? He'll probably be out because some sort of 'statute of limitations' that has expired or some other minor technicality. Let's not forget. Greece is the country where no crook-politician gets convicted of anything! Greece, the land of screw-the-people!

Re: Maybe a week, maybe less?

April 17, 2012 by Irlandos (United Kingdom ), 1 year 4 weeks ago

@Jim Adams:

1. He will be jailed for an unprecedented 15 days
2. be released for some minor civil rights violation
3. be declared a martyr by the Greek press
and
4. be put on the ballot for Parliament because, thanks to him, PASOK's percentages in the polls went up 15%

only in Greece...

Re: Maybe a week, maybe less?

April 17, 2012 by Jim Adams (United States ), 1 year 4 weeks ago

@Irlandos:
15 days? That much? Do you think he asked them to stay in Korydallos that much, so he can break all previous records of 'officials held unjustifiably'? ;)