Trial of Tsochatzopoulos Continues

The trial of former defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos and another 18 defendants, charged with money-laundering and taking kickbacks for armaments' procurements programs, is continuing. The trial opened this week with the continuation of testimony by finance ministry financial crime squad (SDOE) official Nikos Maitos and his cross-examination by defence lawyers.

Press reports said that Criminal Appeals court president Christos Katsianis chastised SDOE for not trying to locate the real owners of the American offshore Nobilis, which transferred ownership of a neoclassical house located at the foothills of the Acropolis to Tsochatzopoulos' wife Vicky Stamatis.

He also criticised SDOE for the lack of thoroughness in its reports on the case.