Witness claims Papantoniou remitted 2.5 mln abroad in installments
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
A civil engineer who testified days prior to former minister Yiannos Papantoniou and his wife Stavroula Kourakou, both detained on money laundering charges, told corruption prosecutors that he had helped the couple send 2.5 million euros in cash abroad.
Papantoniou and his wife testified before the corruption prosecutor until late on Tuesday and were placed in custody in the early hours of Wednesday, ostensibly over concerns they would flee the country. The former minister has denied charges that he laundered 2.8 million euros in kickbacks over a 2003 contract to upgrade six navy frigates when he was defense minister.
The witness, whose testimony was revealed to the press on Wednesday, said he was a friend who believed the deposits he was requested to make initially in Greece and then abroad consisted of "legal revenues by Papantoniou".
The man claimed that "within two years, in 2002 and 2003, I received in installments from Papantoniou totalling of 2.5 million in cash." He said he would pick up the money "from Papantoniou's home in Kifissia n packs of cash in manila envelopes" and would deposit the money at a bank in the northern suburbs. From there, he alleged, "the money left for Switzerland" and an account bearing Papantoniou’s and his wife’s names.
The civil engineer claimed he had not received any compensation for his trouble, because he was carrying out a favor to a person he respected. He said he wanted to help "his friend, a successful politician and an honest and fair human being."
Prosecutors let the man free on a 500,000-euro bail and forbade him from leaving the country.
