ATHENS: 32 individuals indicated to stand trial before a criminal court for kickbacks on submarine contract. The case, concerning a deal for the purchase of German submarines, was uncovered during a major and ongoing corruption investigation into the period when the now jailed Greek former Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos was at the helm of the Defense Ministry.
The indictment relates to illegal and non-transparent payments made for the purchase of submarines by the Hellenic Navy in contracts signed between the Defense Ministry and German firm HDW Ferrostaal. The Appeals Court justices found that 32 individuals should be tried on charges relating to acts of giving and accepting bribes, breach of faith and money laundering, among them business people and members of the military.
In each case, the charges are aggravated by legal provisions concerning embezzlement from the public sector. The indictments are in line with the recommendation made by Greek Appeals Court Public Prosecutor Efstathios Vergonis, who said that 32 of the 37 people charged in connection with the case should stand trial.
