Judges send 32 to trial for kickbacks in submarine deal

A council of appeals court judges decided on Thursday that 32 people, including former politicians, businessmen, soldiers, bankers and arms traders, should stand trial in connection to bribes allegedly paid to secure the sale of four submarines from Germany to the Greek Navy.

It is alleged that public officials, including former Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, received more than 60 million euros in kickbacks to approve the purchase of the submarines from the HDW/Ferrostaal consortium.

The trial comes after an investigation by anti-corruption prosecutors Gavriil Mallis and Yiannis Stavropoulos, who found that charges should not be brought against five of the 37 suspects. The probe revealed that the alleged slush money was mainly transferred via two offshore companies.