Lawyer linked to ex-defense minister’s bribery case released
A Cypriot lawyer who acted as a legal representative of one of the offshore companies linked to former Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who is facing trial for money laundering and embezzlement, has been released from custody.
Spyros Chatzinikolaou said that he had no reason to believe there was anything suspicious about the company. He told a prosecutor that he dealt with numerous offshore companies and that the money transferred through Torcaso, one of the firms Tsochatzopoulos is accused of setting up with the help of associates, was below the average for these types of enterprises.
It was revealed last week that court documents indicate Tsochatzopoulos is alleged to have received as much as 2 billion euros in kickbacks for arms deals.
