Galery

1

Representative of the German company "Atlas" Panos Efstathiou, who was heard this morning by investigators Gabriel Malisse and Ioannis Stavropoulou, admitted that he had given bribes to the amount of about 3 million euro to at least 10 people for two arms deals.

According to sources, the accused, named by former deputy director for armament Antonis Kantas, admitted that he had given bribes for two arms deals, namely for the submarines and the Αsrad programme.

So far, according to sources, the accused has named two former heads of the Armed Forces, one of whom now deceased, as well as committee members. Furthermore, he has also revealed the role played by 3-4 senior officials of the German company.

Panos Efstathiou has named a former head of "Hellenic Defence Systems" SA, and stated that he had taken money in order to give it to another senior official of the "Hellenic Defence Systems" who was the best man of former Defence Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

Efstathiou, however, denied having given bribes to already convicted Akis Tsochatzopoulos Ioannis Sbokos, while at the same time names detainee Antonis Kantas as a blackmailer, claiming that the latter had demanded money in order not to block the procedure for the delivery of the controversial weapons systems.

The defendant appears to have also said that suspicious payments were made via the offshore company IRON, which is his property, and he has also stated the fact that he is the owner of two other offshore companies.

According to sources, Efstathiou has already agreed on the opening of his bank accounts, so that the path of the "dirty money" could be traced.