10 More Companies Suspected Of Being Involved In Tsohatzopoulos Money Laundering Scandal

 New witnesses are expected to be summoned to testify before examining magistrates who are presently investigating the money laundering scandal against former PASOK minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos. Reports this past week said that based on new evidence an additional 10 companies are also involved in the transfer of large amounts of "dirty" money.

Specifically, roughly 8.7 million euros was transferred through the aforementioned companies, which were allegedly used in laundering cash from kickbacks. The sum in question was deposited in a Swiss bank account by the representative of the Drumilan offshore company in Greece, already under investigation for his role in the purchase of the Russian anti-aircraft missile system TOR M1.

The final recipient of remittances, which originated from the bank account in question and which were transferred to nine companies, was the Italian firm "S.D.G S.r.I", whose legal representative was entrepreneur Giorgos Sahpatzidis, one of the defendants in the case already in custody pending trial.

The examining magistrates believe the real beneficiary of the company in question was the former minister, as was in the case of other companies, including offshore types.

According to reports, confiscated evidence from Sahpatzidis' residence and Tsohatzopoulos' office include documents that link them directly with the companies in question, which were used to launder cash from alleged kickbacks until 2008.

Based on available evidence, Tsohatzopoulos' wife has also deposited two remittances to the Italian company account.

The investigation into Tsohatzopoulos' money laundering case is expected to be completed before the end of autumn.(AMNA)