Ex-head of BNP Paribas To Cooperate With Authorities on Armaments and Siemens Scandals

After being recently arrested in Abu Dhabi, the former executive of BNP Paribas and Dresdner Banker Jean-Claude Oswald - a key figure in the armaments and Siemens scandals -, said that he was willing to cooperate with Greek authorities in their ongoing investigations. Swiss authorities may have in the past refused to extradite the banker to Greece, but Greek authorities luckily tracked him down in a transit area in Abu Dhabi, made the arrest and then he was secretly transferred to Greece.

The banker is expected to testify on his involvement in two major scandals, one of which involves shady defence contract deals and the other Siemens. He faces charges of money laundering, bribery and tax evasion. According to one report from To Vima, Oswald appears to have handled about 1.7 million euros that was given out as bribes to Greek officials. A total of 34 are being charged in the case.

The funds apparently came from businessman Panos Efstathiou and were related to the procurement of ASRAD antiaircraft systems by German firm STN Atlas. The BNP Banker is now expected to testify in court as a witness. On Wednesday Oswald is going to testify on the commissions from the WEGMAN firm as well as for illegal payments that were made to the former armaments director Antonis Kantas.

The report in To Vima claims that the money appears to have been laundered via accounts held by Prodromos Mavridis at the German Dresdner Bank in Switzerland, before being transferred to other accounts in Swiss-based banks. Should Oswald refuse to cooperate with Greek officials, then he will likely remain in custody until the Siemens scandal trial begins in September.

From what we learn, Oswald alledgedly laundered funds for politicians, businessmen and judicial officials. Amongst his clients was former alternate director of armaments Antonis Kantas, whose testimonies exposed the extent of corruption.

It should be noted that in 2006 the banker testified in Switzerland that when he visited Greece, he would meet in cafes, where he would receive suitcases full of money. He would then transfer money via the French BNP Paribas bank, where he worked at the time.

Reference: To Vima

To read more about this case, and find out who Kantas is please follow the links below:

SPECIAL REPORT - Kantas EXPOSES Massive German-Greek Web of Corruption In Defence Contracts
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.gr/2013/12/special-report-kantas-exposes-massive.html

ARMS SCANDAL: Did Kantas Implicate Former PM Mitsotakis?
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.gr/2014/02/arms-scandal-was-former-pm-mitsotakis.html

Vicky Stamati says she will “reveal all” on bribes and procurement scandal
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.gr/2015/04/vicky-stamati-says-she-will-reveal-all.html

How Paying Double For German Subs Helped To Sink Greece
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-paying-double-for-german-subs.html

EXPOSED - Classified Documents About Bribery From German Arms Manufacturers To Greek Politicians
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2012/07/exposed-classified-documents-about.html

An Introduction And Analysis Of The Siemens and Ferrostaal Scandals
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2012/06/introduction-and-analysis-of-siemens.html

More Arrested Over Bribery & Kickbacks Claims In Arms Deals
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2014/01/more-arrested-over-bribery-kickbacks.html

Russian Arms Exporter Denies Links to Greek Arms Bribe Scandal
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2014/01/russian-arms-exporter-denies-links-to.html

SPECIAL REPORT - Kantas EXPOSES Massive German-Greek Web of Corruption In Defence Contracts
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2013/12/special-report-kantas-exposes-massive.html

NEW SCANDAL - SYRIZA Targets Venizelos in Defence Systems Contract Fiasco
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2013/10/new-scandal-syriza-targets-venizelos-in.html

Venizelos, An Overflowing Bank Account and German Arms Bribery
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2012/03/venizelos-overflowing-bank-account-and.html

How Papakostaninou Gave 500mln to the A.Rossoni Group After The Debut Of The Memorandums
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-papakostaninou-gave-500mln-to.html

Forgiving Siemens And German Corruption in Greece
http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2012/07/forgiving-siemens-and-german-corruption.html