The former director of the state-run ERT World channel, Nikos Kourtis, and one-time ERT journalist Irene Nikolopoulou were handed 12-month suspended sentences on Thursday after being found guilty of breach of duty and moral instigation, respectively. Another three journalists were acquitted of all charges. The ERT World trial began last May based on charges filed in June 2010 by prosecutor Panagiota Fakou following an investigation on reported financial irregularities in ERT. According to the case file, the operating cost of ERT World had spiraled from 300,000 euros in 2005 to 3-4 million euros in 2009, because of alleged unjustified hirings with monthly salaries between 6,000 euros and 8,000 euros. According to the prosecutor, the operating cost of the television channel increased ten-fold when four basic internal productions were assigned to private production companies. (AMNA)