Prosecutor probing Proton Bank summons ex-Bank of Greece governor
Former Bank of Greece Governor Giorgos Provopoulos (photo) has been called by a prosecutor probing the sale of Proton Bank to Lavrentis Lavrentiadis to answer questions relating to the decision to approve the businessman’s takeover of the lender.
Provopoulos is being treated as a suspect, it emerged on Wednesday. He and the other members of the central bank board that approved the sale of Proton by Piraeus to Lavrentiadis are accused of dishonest assistance in a breach of trust, which is treated as a felony.
The ex-central bank governor was called to answer questions after Lavrentiadis complained in his deposition that he is being singled out by prosecutors. Lavrentiadis is facing charges over running a criminal organization, money laundering, fraud and breach of faith in connection with alleged embezzlement at Proton Bank, which loaned his companies 700 million euros in reportedly suspicious circumstances.