NEWS

In Brief

ANGELOU APPEALS

Ex-PM’s aide challenges steep bail in Vatopedi probe The aide of former Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Yiannis Angelou, appealed yesterday against the steep bail set for him after his questioning by an investigative magistrate in connection to the Vatopedi real estate swap. Angelou, who denies being the mastermind of the deal that saw the Mount Athos monastery obtain valuable public property, was asked to post 400,000 euros’ bail after being questioned as part of the judicial probe. His lawyers argue that the size of the bail is not commensurate with the alleged crime and does not take into account his salary. CIVIL SERVANTS Thousands have not registered A government initiative to conduct an online census of the country’s civil servants, which was due to conclude yesterday, was expected to be extended, as tens of thousands of public workers failed to register before the deadline. About 650,000 public servants had submitted their details on the Interior Ministry’s website by late yesterday. At least 100,000 civil servants have yet to declare themselves. Civil servants have been told that failure to register will result in the suspension of their wages. Heat wave The City of Athens said yesterday that due to the high temperatures forecast for this weekend, its 21 air-conditioned friendship clubs would be open to the public on both days from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Party funding Political parties will be obliged to publish the names of anyone who donates money to them, according to a draft law currently being prepared. Interior Minister Yiannis Ragousis revealed the news to journalists late on Thursday after a parliamentary committee that is assessing the bill on political donations convened for the first time. Communist Party deputy Antonis Skillakos responded by saying that KKE would not comply with the law, as the leftists regard it as an attempt to strangle the finances of smaller parties. Soldiers arrested Police on Cyprus yesterday detained two members of the National Guard on charges of dereliction of duty following the theft of 335 kilos of plastic explosive from a military camp in the southern resort of Limassol. The two soldiers – a 35-year-old from Limassol and a 36-year-old from Paphos – had been based at the high-security unit where the explosives were stored. Police said they were also questioning other soldiers based at the camp. Robbery ring Three Greek men, aged 36, 39 and 40, were detained yesterday as suspected members of a criminal ring believed to have carried out 46 burglaries on homes in northwestern Attica. The ring, which focused chiefly on the areas of Ano Liosia, Menidi, Kamatero and Fyli, is believed to have amassed some 200,000 euros’ worth of valuables in raids over the past few months. Vested interest Two bulletproof vests have been stolen from a police station in Monemvasia, southernmost Peloponnese. The theft took place during the night when the only officer on duty was patrolling the streets.

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