Ex-minister?s relatives grilled
An investigating magistrate probing a massive money-laundering racket centered around former Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos summoned several key suspects in the case over the weekend, including the Socialist veteran?s daughter, wife and first cousin, all in pretrial custody.
The new round of depositions began on Saturday, when the magistrate, Gavriil Mallis, called Nikos Zigras, Tsochatzopoulos?s first cousin and former close business associate, and the ex-minister?s daughter Areti to respond to further charges linked to the laundering of money from kickbacks.
The magistrate was to continue his probe on Sunday with more questions for Tsochatzopoulos?s wife Viki Stamati, who has lodged several appeals for her release from the Korydallos high-security prison, without success.
Next in line next week are Yiannis Sbokos, the former head of arms procurements at the Defense Ministry whose name is on a list of politicians being investigated for corruption, and Tsochatzopoulos?s ex-wife Gudrun Moldenhauer.
