BUSTED - Hardouvelis: I sent money abroad because I was scared (VIDEO)

Former finance minister Gikas Hardouvelis admitted that he transferred some of his savings to foreign bank accounts in 2012, because he was “scared like all Greeks”. While speaking to STAR Tv earlier this week, the former minister was forced to explain his actions following the revelation in last Sunday’s Real News newspaper that he is being investigated for alleged failure to comply with his tax obligations.

Hardouvelis noted that he has paid all taxes and that any foreign bank accounts he has were opened only because he had also worked abroad. Funds were only sent to those accounts when he was not a minister.

     "I'm taxed for the sums of money the newspaper is referring to. The money is the result of many years of work -- mine and my wife's. My tax reports confirm that", said Hardouvelis.

The controversial money transfers occurred in May 2012, when he was responsible for the financial office of former Prime Minister Lucas Papademos.

Hardouvelis admitted that, despite the fact that during the period in question he advised the Greeks not to transfer money abroad, he did the opposite, for.... family reasons.

     "Like many Greeks, I transferred some of my money abroad for an emergency, because my child was abroad”.

Explaining the fact that the transfers were carried out in relatively small tranches, he said that this was because the transfers were completed by himself through e-banking.

     "I have nothing to hide. In my life, everything I've done transparently, my life is a mirror, " Hardouvelis added.

References: Real News, enikos, STAR Tv, YouTube