Magistrates investigating the possible existence of a second trial-fixing ring — apart from the one involving lawyers and judges in which a priest allegedly acted as a middleman — believe that up to seven judicial officials may be involved, legal sources told Kathimerini.

After several probes into a number of bank accounts by Yiannis Sideris and Yiannis Fiorakis, evidence has emerged indicating that five court of first instance judges as well as two others had allegedly received suspicious payments, sources said.

Prosecutors charged 15 people in June with being involved in a corrupt ring that fixed the outcome of trials, particularly in securing the early release of drug dealers, in return for payment. Archimandrite Iakovos Yiossakis, who is currently in custody, allegedly acted as a middleman for the group.

However, according to sources, this latest suspected ring is not necessarily being linked to the original one, though the possibility is being examined further.