Cyprus-Forum.com

[Cap]

Cyprus link to Greek scandal

A FORMER Greek minister arrested this week on money laundering charges appears to have a Cypriot connection through two offshore companies allegedly used for transferring kickbacks.
Akis Tsohatzopoulos’ arrest on Wednesday is the most high-profile case yet against a politician over scandals spanning decades in the debt-laden country.
The main charges against the former minister and member of the PASOK party are linked with the procurement of submarines from German firm Ferrostaal, and Russian surface-to-air missile systems.
According to daily Phileleftheros, the main company involved in the affair is Torcaso Investments Ltd, which according to the company registrar, was registered in August 30, 1999 but has since been dissolved.
Politis reported that another Cyprus-based company, Drumilan Offset Programme Ltd, had been allegedly used to transfer cash linked with the acquisition of the Russian self-propelled short range TOR M1 air defence systems.
Politis said the cash then found its way to the USA before ending up in Switzerland.
Tsohatzopoulos, who claimed the whole affair is a conspiracy, was arrested at his luxurious neo-classical mansion at the foot of the Athens Acropolis.
His purchase of the mansion had prompted the investigation.
Greek police have arrested four more suspects in connection with the affair including Tsohatzopoulos’ cousin, who appears as the beneficiary of Torcaso, a businessman, and an accountant.
The fourth suspect is the main shareholder of a construction company that renovated the former minister’s residence and sold a house to his daughter.
Tsohatzopoulos, who has held a total of seven portfolios including defence between 1981 and 2004, faces felony charges in relation to property deals and possible tax violations.
Athens News said the case against the 72-year-old was put together after the findings of a financial audit were made available by the relevant parliamentary committee.
Some of the charges arise from filing an inaccurate income declaration for the 2009 fiscal year.
According to findings of the committee, which were forwarded to the Court of Appeals, Tsohatzopoulos' "source of income" declaration did not include his residence and his declared income did not correspond with assets in his possession, Athens News said.
In 2011, PASOK expelled Tsohatzopoulos after lawmakers asked that he be indicted in connection with the submarine deal.
Tsohatzopoulos nearly became prime minister in 1996, when he was narrowly defeated in an internal party vote to become chairman of PASOK, which was in power at the time.

[AEKTZIS]

I agree. Greece is to blame for everything. And by "Greece" I mean individuals who engage in isolated actions, neither endorsed by the Greek government, nor by the Greek peoples. Individuals who in absolutely no way represent the entire nation of 12 million inhabitants of the Hellenic Republic.

[Cap]

Corruption is ingrained in every fabric of Greek society. Statistically, Greece is the most corrupt country in the EU. This comes as no surprise really.

[yialousa1971]

Corruption is ingrained in every fabric of Greek society. Statistically, Greece is the most corrupt country in the EU. This comes as no surprise really.

What about the UK?

[GreekIslandGirl]

Corruption is ingrained in every fabric of Greek society. Statistically, Greece is the most corrupt country in the EU. This comes as no surprise really.

Do you include yourself in this 'fabric of Greek society'?

[yialousa1971]

I agree. Greece is to blame for everything. And by "Greece" I mean individuals who engage in isolated actions, neither endorsed by the Greek government, nor by the Greek peoples. Individuals who in absolutely no way represent the entire nation of 12 million inhabitants of the Hellenic Republic.

Greece is not run by Greeks or if they are Greeks they are on the payroll of a foreign goverment (like the Siemens scandal in Greece) thats the problem.

[yialousa1971]

Corruption is ingrained in every fabric of Greek society. Statistically, Greece is the most corrupt country in the EU. This comes as no surprise really.

What's funny is you, GR, Bananiot, Paphitis and the rest of the Neo Cypriots don't get paid to be a traitor, you do it for free.

[Cap]

Corruption is ingrained in every fabric of Greek society. Statistically, Greece is the most corrupt country in the EU. This comes as no surprise really.

What's funny is you, GR, Bananiot, Paphitis and the rest of the Neo Cypriots don't get paid to be a traitor, you do it for free.

I've never been a traitor to Cyprus.

[yialousa1971]

Corruption is ingrained in every fabric of Greek society. Statistically, Greece is the most corrupt country in the EU. This comes as no surprise really.

What's funny is you, GR, Bananiot, Paphitis and the rest of the Neo Cypriots don't get paid to be a traitor, you do it for free.

I've never been a traitor to Cyprus.

Then don't deny your Hellenic routes, don't fall into the Anglo's trap

[Cap]

Corruption is ingrained in every fabric of Greek society. Statistically, Greece is the most corrupt country in the EU. This comes as no surprise really.

What's funny is you, GR, Bananiot, Paphitis and the rest of the Neo Cypriots don't get paid to be a traitor, you do it for free.

I've never been a traitor to Cyprus.

Then don't deny your Hellenic routes, don't fall into the Anglo's trap

I'm not denying Cyprus's historical Greek influence. Amongst others...
But modern Greece's influnece... What a mess.