Magistrates leading GD probe to summon leader, others for more testimony

Artemis Matthaiopoulos on Monday became the eighth Golden Dawn MP to be remanded in custody pending trial on criminal charges as magistrates leading a probe into the neofascist party prepare to summon another five legislators, including party leader Nikos Michaloliakos (photo), for additional testimony.

According to sources, the investigating magistrates and a prosecutor decided that Matthaiopoulos should be remanded after deeming that he is an integral member of the party’s leadership and played a decisive role in a string of illegal activities members and MPs have been implicated in.

Like many of his fellow MPs, Matthaiopoulos refused to answer magistrates’ questions and instead submitted a written deposition in which he denied involvement in any criminal activities and claimed to be a victim of political persecution.

The magistrates, Ioanna Klapa and Maria Dimitropoulou, are on Tuesday expected to summon Michaloliakos, who is being detained at Korydallos Prison, along with the party’s second-in-command Christos Pappas and another MP, Yiannis Lagos, to defend themselves on additional charges, of illegal weapons possession for the first two and of creating an illegal archive for the latter.

The party’s spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris and another MP, Nikos Michos, are also expected to be summoned in the coming days to respond to charges of illegal weapons and explosives possession.