Ex-mayor denies charges, walks free
![Ex-mayor denies charges, walks free](https://www.ekathimerini.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/papagerogopoulos499-thumb-large.jpg)
The former mayor of Thessaloniki, Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, denied charges of handling funds which were the product of illegal activities and was allowed to walk free after appearing before a Thessaloniki investigative magistrate.
His testimony was tied to a case involving the alleged embezzlement of nearly 18 million euros in municipal funds, for which he was sentenced to 12 years behind bars in 2013. The former mayor, who suffered a heart attack while in prison, secured his release in July after benefiting from a new law allowing convicts with disabilities or chronic health problems to be freed after serving at least one-fifth of their sentence.
Former Thessaloniki general secretary Michalis Lemousias, currently serving 13 years at Diavata prison, was also expected to face a magistrate in connection with the same case.