Former minister Tsohatzopoulos to be released from jail

In addition to the 200,000 euros in bail, the courts have imposed additional conditions for his release. Tsohatzopoulos is required to turn over his passport and is banned from leaving the country or from travelling in boats and aircraft, while he is required to reside at a specific address and to regularly appear at his local police station.
An Athens criminal appeals court on Wednesday refused to lower the amount of bail that Tsohatzopoulos was required to pay for his release from prison on compassionate grounds but gave him the option of paying the amount in either cash, a letter of guarantee issued by a bank or through a mortgage of property owned by himself or a third party. The former minister had petitioned the court to lower bail, claiming that he was unable to pay.
Earlier in April, a court had allowed the former minister's release on bail due to his poor state of health after undergoing triple bypass surgery. The court accepted that his continued stay in a prison hospital would be prejudicial to his health and set bail at 200,000 euros. A former defence minister, 77-year-old Tsohatzopoulos is serving a 20-year sentence for money-laundering.