Key suspect in arms probe admits to handling bribes
A key suspect in an investigation into bribes allegedly pocketed by Greek officials in exchange for securing defense deals has allegedly admitted to handling some 70 million euros in kickbacks.
In a long deposition on Thursday, Michalis Matantos, a former representative of the German firm Ferrostaal, allegedly provided judicial officials with details of the bank accounts that were used to transfer bribes linked to a 3-billion-euro submarine deal. Matantos did not implicate any politicians, however, repeating claims that bribes went to Sotiris Emmanouil, the former head of the Skaramangas shipyards, and to Yiannis Beltsios, an aide to ex-Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.
