In Brief
CHRISTOFORAKOS PAYS
Former Siemens Hellas CEO compensates German company The former head of the Greek branch of German electronics and engineering giant Siemens has paid the company 1.2 million euros in compensation for his part in the alleged bribery of public and government officials in Greece, according to reports. German weekly magazine Der Spiegel said that former Siemens Hellas CEO Michalis Christoforakos has reached an out-of-court settlement with the main company. Siemens in Germany took Christoforakos to court at the end of 2008, demanding compensation. Christoforakos has successfully fought his extradition to Greece from Germany, where he fled last summer. ISAP RUNNING Railway section to open again The section of the Kifissia-Piraeus electric railway (ISAP) between Neo Faliro and Tavros, in southern Athens, is set to open today after five months. The stretch has been closed for engineering work since January, with thousands of commuters having to use a replacement bus service. The reopening of this section of the line has been delayed by the discovery of antiquities. ISAP said that a safety test will be carried out this morning and, should everything go to plan, the line will open soon afterward. Commuters traveling from Kifissia should note that trains will still not stop at Nea Ionia, Kato Patissia and Aghios Nikolaos. Pharmacies closed Pharmacists will begin a new 48-hour strike today in protest at government plans to liberalize their sector, one of many closed-shop professions in Greece. Information on pharmacies that will be operating on emergency duty is posted in the window of all pharmacies or is available online at www.yyka.gov.gr. Erdogan coming Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is due to visit Athens for talks on May 14, has said there is no question of his trip being postponed due to Greece’s economic crisis. Speaking to the Milliyet newspaper in Turkey, Erdogan said he hoped Greece’s problems would not have a negative effect on the region. Prison death A 22-year-old inmate was found hanging in his cell in Hania prison yesterday. Authorities said that the Lebanese national had used gauze to hang himself. His cellmate told prison guards he did not notice anything unusual. Foul play has been ruled out. The unnamed prisoner had been jailed for a series of thefts in Hania and was waiting to be extradited. Teacher nabbed A 47-year-old senior high school teacher from Hania, Crete, has been arrested on suspicion of prostituting herself, police said yesterday. The woman, who was not named, was taken into custody after accepting 20 euros from an undercover officer to have sex with him. A local education official said the woman had not been teaching recently because she had been suffering psychological problems. Seaside shooting A man was found dead in a parking lot along the coastal road between Athens and Sounio on Saturday. Police said that the man, who was not immediately identified, had been shot and left in his car, which was parked in the area of Aghia Marina, southeast of Athens.
