Former PASOK Minister Facing Kickback Charges

Former Deputy Education Minister and ex-PASOK MP Ioannis Anthopoulos was freed on a bail of 200,000 Euros and banned from leaving the country  after facing an investigating magistrate on charges of abusing his position for personal gain.

The PASOK Minister is alleged to have pocketed some 1.57 million Euros after helping a tobacco trading company secure at least seven contracts and gain access to financing between the period 2002-2005.

On his part, Anthopoulos says that the sum, which was found in his account, was a loan.