Former minister Yannos Papantoniou was found innocent of charges of money laundering by a criminal appeals court on Thursday.
Papantoniou and another two defendants in the case – his wife Stavroula Kourakou and a family friend, Andreas Bardis – were prosecuted following allegations of bribery over a frigate upgrade in 2003 and subsequent money laundering of the funds. All three defendants were unanimously acquitted by the three judges because of reasonable doubt.
The court trial, lasting months, examined the alleged bribery of the three defendants by the company that had won the contract for the upgrade of six Hellenic Navy frigates. Bank account funds were alleged to be a result of bribes to the minister for the project.
Prosecutors had recommended that the former minister be found guilty, but judges in the appelate court ruled that there was reasonable doubt over the two basic charges related to money laundering (bribery and breach of trust), whose statute of limitations had expired, additionally.
Papantoniou – who held posts as minister of national defense (2001-2003) and of economy and finance (1994-2001) among others – had been detained for 17 months.
Statements
Following the verdict, the defense lawyer for the former minister and his wife said that the ruling was fair.
In his own statements, Papantoniou said, “I am very moved and welcome the court’s verdict. It is a substantial vindication of my political struggles for a better Greece. (It is) a fair decision that erases the tremendous suffering my family has experienced over the last 8 years, a decision that honors Greek justice.”
