Laiakounakos postpones rendezvous with justice

Thomas Liakounakos, the man behind AXON group has been given until after Easter to face inquisitors on felonious charges for the armed forces' “Electronic Warfare” project. Mr Liakounakos was to face authorities on Monday (7 April), but the date was rolled on.

Thomas Liakounakos has to answer to corruption inquisitor Konstaninos Sargiotis, on data collected by corruption prosecutor Popi Papandreou, concerning a contract according to which an AXON subsidiary was to provide 18 jammers and 11 reception centers in order to jam and monitor enemy communications.

The project cost came to 72 million euros (not including VAT), of which 35 million (50%) were pre-paid to SONAK (an AXON subsidiary), despite the fact that law bars any pre-payment over 40% of the total cost.

Furthermore, the contract seems to be still pending without the Greek state having received a single item. It must be noted that contract was to unfold over the period 2001-2009 and the purchase had reached arbitration, which the state lost forcing it to pay SONAK 3 million euros in damages, and return letters of credit.

In total, 19 persons are being charged in the case among them former army chief Giorgos Antonakopoulos, two former directors general Evangelos Vasilakos and Giorgos Koliris, as well as 14 army officers that were on the relevant committees.

The charges include perfidy against the Greek state, and direct, or indirect complicity against the Greek state.

The possible complicity of political personnel like former defense ministers Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Yannos Paapntoniou, Spilios Spiliotopoulos, and Evangelos Meimarakis has been dropped as the stature of limitations has run out.

According to information, Mr Liakounakos has been placed on an ad hoc “black list” by foreign defense system firms, while even erstwhile associates are taking great distances from the chief of AXON, who is rumored to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Mr Liakounakos is expected to ask and get a second postponment.