Akis held at Police HQ until Monday

The public, speechless but also apparently possessed by a feeling of justice in this country, is monitoring the dramatic developments that followed this morning’s arrest of the former minister of the PASOK government, Mr. Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who is being prosecuted for money laundering and corruption.

The once-powerful Akis arrived before the prosecutor shortly before 18.00, smiling as usual and accompanied by police officers working in the Organized Crime division, whose faces had been covered with hoods.

Then, the former minister was led before investigator Gabriel Mallis, while he merely reiterated to reporters that “we will talk afterwards”.

The revelation that gold plates, ten or six according to various sources, gold coins and several passbooks were identified by police and prosecutors in two Tsochatzopoulos family homes in Kolonaki and Paleo Psychico, is shocking. The houses are allegedly owned by the former minister's daughter, Ms. Areti Tsochatzopoulos.

Investigations have been underway since this morning, after the issuing of five warrants for the arrest of Mr. Akis Tsochatzopoulos and four other persons, relatives or associates of the former minister. There have also been investigations in Mr. Tsochatzopoulos’ political office and offices of friends and businessmen. The file on the case pertains to the total of Mr. Tsochatzopoulos’ assets. According to information, there has been evidence uncovered against the former minister.

The prosecution for money laundering was brought against Mr. Tsochatzopoulos 15 days ago. The basic offense for which he is being prosecuted is corruption. When asked why there was a warrant for Mr. Tsochatzopoulos' arrest, the answer given by justice officials with knowledge of the case was indicative of the fact that the former minister is facing serious charges.

He was also deemed to be a flight risk. The judicial inquiry concerned the manner of acquisition of the former minister's assets. The Case was investigated by the Financial Crime Unit. The basic “incriminating” evidence against the former minister pertains to the armament programs during his tenure as National Defense minister. The file also contains data from the investigation by German justice officials.

The investigation covers all of Mr. Tsochatzopoulos' assets, real estate, but also mobile estate and of course the house on Dionisiou Areopagitou street. The case involves more than 10 people. Valid information states that the raids being conducted since Holy Wednesday morning will continue in all areas involving defendants. “We have nowhere to put the paper trail we are discovering”, was the expression of a prosecutor when he described the picture of the morning raids.

Note that in the case of Akis Tsochatzopoulos, a warrant has been issued for the arrest of his accountant Efrosini Lambropoulou, who was apprehended in Karditsa, and the businessman Asterios Economidis, CEO of Akron Manufacturing. The businessman from Thessaloniki has not yet been located by authorities.