MPs to decide on graft charges against minister
A prosecutor has sent a case file to Parliament regarding corruption accusations against Interior Minister Yiannis Michelakis and MPs will decide whether to lift the New Democracy official’s immunity in the next three months, Justice Minister Haralambos Athanasiou told the House yesterday.
An article in the April issue of the monthly Hot Doc magazine alleged that Michelakis received money from Anastasios Pallis, a businessman facing charges of money laundering and illegal weapons possession, in order to ask a question on his behalf in Parliament.
Michelakis strongly denies the accusation and has launched legal action against the magazine. He has also written to Athanasiou asking for the vote in Parliament to happen as soon as possible so he can clear his name.
