Nineteen on trial over Greek 'kickbacks'

A former Greek defence minister appeared in court today for the start of a long-anticipated corruption trial against him and another 18 co-defendants, including members of his immediate family, on charges stemming from allegations of kickbacks in defence contracts.

Akis Tsochadzopoulos, his wife, daughter and another five suspects in the case have spent the past year in jail awaiting the trial on felony money-laundering charges.

The pre-trial scenes deepened the disgrace of a figure who was once one of Greece’s most powerful men.

The former minister, his wife, Vicky Stamati, and other defendants were transported to the trial from jail on a police bus. Tsochadzopoulos was led down the vehicle’s steps handcuffed and clutching a file of papers.

Due to the large number of defendants, lawyers, and the intense media interest in the proceedings, the trial is being held in the ceremonies hall of the Athens appeals court.

Today’s proceedings are expected to be largely procedural, with the full trial likely to last several months. The defendants include the former minister’s cousin, as well as a former accountant, a lawyer and several former associates. All are being charged with money laundering. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison.

In March, the 73-year-old Tsochadzopoulos was sentenced to eight years in prison in a separate but related trial after being convicted of filing false income declarations.

The politician was a prominent figure in past Socialist governments, serving as defence minister from 1996 to 2001 and development minister between 2001 and 2004.

The Socialist party, PASOK, dominated Greek politics for decades but saw its public support hammered over its handling of a severe financial crisis that broke out in late 2009. Struggling to tame the country’s runaway debt, the country now depends on international rescue loans for survival, and successive governments have imposed punishing austerity measures and suffered spiralling unemployment. PASOK is currently a junior partner in the conservative-led coalition government.

Tsochadzopoulos has been accused of setting up a system of kickbacks from purchases of military hardware, in particular German-made submarines and a Russian-made anti-aircraft missile system.

Tsochadzopoulos allegedly received bribes for the two contracts and then funnelled the money into property purchases in Greece. The other defendants are accused of either helping him set up the system, starting in 1998, or of receiving part of the money.