A case file concerning the four 214-type submarines purchased by Greece based on directly assigned contracts signed with the German company HDW and Skaramangas Shipyards was forwarded to Parliament for further investigation into the likelihood of ministerial liability, it was announced on Thursday.
A first instance court chief prosecutor will forward the specific case file to the Supreme Court before it is sent to Parliament.
The investigation will focus on three former defence ministers, Yiannos Papantoniou, Spilios Spiliotopoulos and Vangelis Meimarakis, who served from 2002 until the summer of 2009.
This section of the case file is being forwarded to Parliament following the portion that concerns former defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, based on new findings by the financial crimes squad (SDOE).
New evidence suggested that clauses, included in the initial defence contracts, were not activated, while contractor deadlines and contractual obligations were not met. Additionally, there are charges of constructional defects and non-execution of contracts for offset benefits.
Within the next few days the prosecutor's office will summon roughly 10 individuals involved in the first phase of the case (1998-2002) to testify on the purchase of defence systems for the Hellenic Navy. They will be added to the list of 37 individuals already summoned to testify as suspects on charges of breach of faith, bribery and money laundering.
source: ANA-MPA
