Matantos set free on bail

After a long deposition yesterday, Michalis Matantos, former representative of the German firm Ferrostaal, was left free on a 500 thousand euro bail. Matantos allegedly provided judicial officials with details of the bank accounts that were used to transfer bribes linked to a 3-billion-euro submarine deal.

A key suspect in an investigation into bribes allegedly pocketed by Greek officials in exchange for securing defense deals has allegedly admitted to handling some 70 million euros in kickbacks.

Matantos did not implicate any politicians, however, repeating claims that bribes went to Sotiris Emmanouil, the former head of the Skaramangas shipyards, and to Yiannis Beltsios, assistant of former Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos. He also claimed that he did not know that the money transferred directly to the German firm were bribes and not legal payments.