Finance Ministry names five that remitted large sums abroad

The five named are New Democracy MP for Athens first district, Vasilis Kikilias (pictured), Independent Greeks (ANEL) MP Vasilis Kapernaros, Democratic Left (DIMAR) MP Maria Repousi, and the wives of Mr Kapernaros, and former PASOK minister Nikos Sifounakis.

The names appear on the list of the Center for the Inspection of Very Wealthy Taxpayers. According to that list that came out of an inspection of relevant authorities, the three New Democracy deputies involved are shown to have deposited a total of 3.5 million euros in banks abroad.

In an announcement, Vasilis Kikilias noted that any money he has is in Greek banks and is the product from his activities as a professional basketball player, and a doctor.

Asked by TheTOC how she responded. Maria Repousi, answered “no comment,” while Vasilis Kapernaros said he had never transferred money abroad, clarifying that “At the end of 2009, money was transferred that I repatriated at the beginning of 2009 through a Eurobank fund transfer for which I paid commission. I'm facing a political assault and I have told them 'you have the government, but I have justice.' If they dare they should open the accounts of large legal offices that belong to ministers and deputy ministers. The financial crimes squad (SDOE) has never done that.”

Former deputy minister for sport, and Thessaloniki MP, Yannis Ioannidis had been named, along with Vasilis Kikilias earlier as one of the three New Democracy deputies that are shown to have remitted millions abroad. However the announcement from the finance ministry notes that  names, other than the five named, that have appeared in the press “do not correspond to the truth.”

So far of the 44 cases inspected, 12 (27%) were found to have funds that could not be accounted for. The Center for the Inspection of Very Wealthy Taxpayers list contains over 600 names.