01 Aug COURT OF APPEAL ATHENS CLEARS GREEK BUSINESSMAN IN A FORMER MINISTER BRIBERY TRIAL
On 28 July 2017 the Court of Appeal Athens (sitting as a first instance court) delivered its judgment in a widely publicised bribery and money laundering case.
The Court imposed an eight years sentence on a former minister for money laundering in relation to bribes allegedly paid by Siemens in exchange for contracts. Two more individuals were convicted to multiyear sentences on bribery and money laundering charges. All sentences will not be enforced pending the appeals by those convicted.
The Court acquitted Mr T, a Greek businessman and close friend of the minister who had opened a bank account in Switzerland to which the bribes were transferred. According to the judgment the businessman acted in good faith and had no knowledge of the origin of the money. A lady whose bank account was used for the same purpose was also acquitted.
Ilias Anagnostopoulos and Marialena Papandreou advised and represented Mr T in pre-trial and trial proceedings.