Ex-defense minister released from pre-trial detention

After 17 months in pre-trial detention on money laundering charges, former socialist defense minister Yiannos Papantoniou was released from Korydallos Prison on Tuesday, following a decision by a judicial council to accept his pledge to pay 150,000 euros in bail by July 1.

The court approved his conditional release several days ago but had delayed freeing him as, according to Papantoniou’s lawyer, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, the ex-minister did not have the required bail money. Papantoniou has been banned from leaving the country and ordered to visit his local police station regularly. 

Papantoniou has dismissed as “a fabrication” claims that he laundered 2.8 million euros in Swiss francs, allegedly pocketed in exchange for securing a contract in 2003 to upgrade six Hellenic Navy frigates. 

He and his wife Stavroula Kourakou were remanded in custody in October 2018, with the latter being released in March of 2019.