In Brief
SIEMENS PROBE
Judge asks for more charges over Olympics security package Investigating magistrate Nikos Zagorianos has found enough evidence to suggest that the Greek state was defrauded during the purchase of the multimillion-euro C4I security system installed for the Athens Olympics in 2004, it was revealed yesterday. He has asked prosecutors to issue charges against «anyone responsible.» Zagorianos was looking into the deal as part of his investigation into the Siemens scandal. The Greek branch of the German electronics giant was the subcontractor on the C4I project. POLYTECHNIC ROW Rector rejects talk of move The rector of the National Technical University of Athens, Constantinos Moutzouris, yesterday accused Education Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos and Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis of attempting to blame all the city’s problems on the school. Spiliotopoulos and Kaklamanis have suggested that the NTUA, or Polytechnic, as it is known, be moved from of the city center, especially after the recent disturbances. «It is hypocritical for them to be connecting the city’s problems with the NTUA, university asylum and universities in general,» said Moutzouris. Turkish violations Four Turkish jets violated Greek air space above the Aegean island of Farmakonisi yesterday, Defense Ministry officials said. The Phantom reconnaissance aircraft were chased off by Greek fighter planes, the officials added. The transgressions came a day after Turkish jets violated Greek air space in the same area. Joker robber An armed robber wearing a plastic red clown nose netted 5,000 euros in two consecutive raids on branches of Millennium Bank in the northeastern Athens district of Holargos and in Gerakas, eastern Attica. The two raids were carried out within 20 minutes of each other. There were no injuries. Counterfeit currency Police in the Peloponnesian town of Nafplion yesterday were questioning two Pakistani nationals believed to be members of a ring forging and trading in counterfeit 100-euro bills. Police were alerted by local shopowners after the two suspects allegedly used four forged notes to try and make purchases over the weekend. Kuneva visitor Employment Minister Fani Palli-Petralia yesterday visited Constantina Kuneva, the 44-year-old Attica cleaners’ union official who has been in the hospital with serious injuries since an acid attack in December. Palli-Petralia reportedly heralded reforms to legislation to regulate the operation of cleaning firms and ensure conditions for workers are improved. Arson attacks Unidentified arsonists yesterday used gas-canister bombs to cause minor damage to a store selling security systems in the central Athens district of Gyzi. There were no injuries. Illegal antiquities Police in Veria, northern Greece, yesterday detained two Greek men on charges of illegally trading in antiquities, after finding six pieces of ancient marble columns in their possession. The suspects, aged 21 and 28, allegedly told police that they imported the artifacts legally from Bulgaria.
