Prosecutor recommends ex-officials be found guilty in bribes case

The public prosecutor in the trial concerning the purchase of the Hermes telecommunications system for the Greek armed forces more than a decade ago on Friday recommended that the former general secretary for procurements at the Defense Ministry, Yiannis Sbokos (photo), and two other officials, Antonis Kantas and Nikos Leontaritis, be found guilty of accepting bribes.

“Sixteen years after it was bought, the system is still not working as it is antiquated and cannot be used,” said prosecutor Eleni Karkabouna.

The main suspect in the case is jailed ex-Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos but he is not standing trial as the statute of limitations for his charge of breach of faith has expired.