The 36 politicians audited by the Financial Crimes Unit

A list with 36 political figures involved in cases of illegal enrichment appears to have been leaked by the Economic Crime Unit, causing additional shock to the political system. The names include 5 active MPs, the House President Evangelos Meimarakis, Mr. Panos Kammenos and the Konstantinos Karamanlis foundation. It is also worthy of note that the Unit is checking the president of the MP audit committee Thanasis Nakos!

The publication of the list by zougla.gr, however, provoked the intervention of financial prosecutor Grigoris Peponis. The prosecutor ordered an urgent preliminary bi-directional investigation. The aim is to identify those officials responsible for leaking the list in question, who submitted official documents concerning ongoing criminal investigations, but also to place the blame on those who publicized the 36 names in violation of confidentiality. The investigation was assigned to the Misdemeanors prosecutor Kat. Antoniou.

“Justice must quickly decide which politicians will be brought up on charges of illegal enrichment, but also which politicians are victims of malicious allegations”, stressed government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou, while he asked the courts to reach a conclusion “as required by the order of the Economic Prosecutor, on who leaked the documents illegally. “The Greek people are awaiting to see in practice that institutions are in operation and laws are being enforced”, concludes Mr. Kedikoglou.

It should be noted that none of the politicians who are being investigated are a priori guilty, and of course no one can be blamed for unlawful activity until the audit is complete.

The names of the 36 political figures are as follows:

Nicholas Andrianopoulos, former general secretary of the Minister of Finance.

Ioannis Anthopoulos, former Secretary of Education with PASOK. The investigation began on April 2012 and was due to his involvement – as counsel - in several companies, about which the Unit is carrying out audits and specific searches. The checking of bank accounts has been requested.

Dimitris Apostolakis, former Minister of Defense during the Costas Simitis government

Fotis Arvanitis, a former PASOK MP.
Christos Verelis, former Minister of Transportation and Communications.
Elizabeth Vozenberg, former New Democracy MP.
Giorgos Voulgarakis, former Minister of Public Order, Culture and Mercantile Marine Affairs. An audit is being carried out at the request of the Financial Prosecutor sent on July 18th. The bank accounts belonging to him and his wife will be checked.
Alexandros Voulgaris, former Magnesia MP with PASOK. He is being checked by the Thessaly Financial Crimes Unit.
Christos Zahopoulos, former general secretary of the Culture ministry for the New Democracy party.
Nikitis Kaklamanis, ND MP. He is being audited for the period when he was the Mayor of Athens. The audit began after a complaint which arrived at the offices of the Prosecution in June 2012.
Panos Kammenos, president of the Independent Greeks party. He is being investigated by the Unit and audited  for the period when he was still a Member of Parliament.
Michalis Karhimakis, former secretary of the PASOK National Council. The audit began after an anonymous tip.
Nikos Konstantopoulos, former SYRIZA MP.
Michalis Liapis, former Minister of Transport and Culture.
Konstantinos Liaskas, former Minister.
Anastasis Mantelis, former Minister of Transportation and Communication with PASOK. An audit and a check of his bank accounts were carried out in the framework of the Siemens scandal investigation.
Petros Mandouvalos, lawyer and former ND MP.
Evangelos Meimarakis, Parliament President. Audited by the Unit after tips that reached the FCU.
Antonis Bezas, Thesprotia MP. Audited after a complaint.
Athanasios Nakos, vice president of the House.
Giorgos Orfanos, former Thessaloniki MP with ND. Audited for the period during which he was vice minister of Sports.
Fevronia Patrianakou, Laconia MP with ND.
Giannos Papantoniou, former Finance and Defence Minister with PASOK.
Giorgos Patoulis, mayor of Amarousion.
Yiannis Sbokos, former general secretary of the Minister of Defense.
Aris Spiliotopoulos, ND MP.
Spilios Spiliotopoulos, former ND MP.
Nikos Tagaras, former Corinthia deputy governor.
Leonidas Tzanis, former vice minister of Foreign Affairs with PASOK.
Elpida Tsouri, former PASOK MP and deputy minister of marine affairs.
Akis Tsochatzopoulos, former Defense minister.
Panagiotis Fasoulas, former PASOK MP and Mayor of Piraeus.
Phillip Foundis, former candidate MP with the Green party.
Apostolos Fotiadis, former Finance deputy minister with PASOK.
Michalis Chalkidis, former Imathia MP with ND.
Marina Chrisoveloni, Magnesia MP with the Independent Greeks.
“Karamanlis G. Konstantinos” foundation, charitable institution inspected for mismanagement.