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The three-member panel of the fast-track court in Athens has freed from guilt journalist Kostas Vaxevanis, known for the publication of the "Lagarde List". His magazine, "HOT DOC", had published the names of 2,059 Greeks with accounts in the Swiss HSBC bank, including those of Greece’s famous businessmen, shipping magnates, journalists and three politicians, only one of whom is still alive.

Before the judges, the prosecutor in the case insisted on finding Vaxevanis guilty on the charge that he had violated the law on personal data protection, arguing that the people on the list had not expressed consent to the publishing of their names and that their professions had been indicated next to their names.

"The case does not seek to impose censorship or to intimidate journalists. Its aim is to determine the limits of the two established rights that are in conflict," the prosecutor said, adding, "The approach to the case would have been different if Kostas Vaxevanis had published just the names of those who had held public positions and of those who had been associated with them."

In his pleading, the journalist stated that he had published the list in order to indicate the participants in the corruption system, which is ruling Greece.

A year ago, the Court of First Instance freed Kostas Vaxevanis from guilt. He had found himself back in the dock after the Athens prosecutor's office had decided to appeal the decision.