Galery

1

A monetary penalty of 150,000 euro and a ban on leaving the country was imposed by the court on former Minister of Defence Akis Tsochatzopoulos after ruling that detaining him was not necessary. The former contender for leadership of PASOK, who nearly became Prime Minister of Greece testified on the accusation that he had submitted an "incorrect statement of how he acquired his income" in 2009.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos will have to give up the infamous house on Dionisiou Areopagitou Street, because it was ordered for the property to be frozen. The luxury property in question was not included in the tax return of the former minister, which was defined as "insincere".

The former minister was called to testify because of the differences found when comparing his tax return with his bank deposits and shares on the stock exchange.

According to the prosecutor’s report, Akis Tsochatzopoulos declared a total income of 250 955.87 euro and the sum of 150,000 has been identified as a bank loan. At the same time, obtaining other, older assets cannot be explained based on his income.

The former minister was called to testify in the middle of January. He requested continuance of the hearing then. When he left the magistrate's office, he said that the house in question had been declared in 2011 because it was purchased in 2010. Akis Tsochatzopoulos added that he had sent to Parliament additional evidence to justify his income and property.

Later, his office made a statement that his visit to the judge has no connection with allegations for submitting an "insincere" tax return and was "personal".

Three weeks later, the developments have disproved the former politician of the day who should forget trips abroad now.