House committee says LAOS chief should face charges

A parliamentary committee investigating the “pothen esches” (declaration of source of wealth) forms submitted by LAOS head Giorgos Karatzaferis unanimously declared late on Wednesday that the former minister should face charges over money found in foreign bank accounts. The committee also decided that the case should be heard by the Court of Audit.

The decision was reached following a judicial investigation alleging that payments of some 1.65 million euros were made to two offshore companies connected to Karatzaferis by businessmen acting as middlemen in the sale of Super Puma helicopters to the Greek government. According to sources, a deputy raised the issue of possible payments made to a third offshore company at Wednesday’s House session.

The right-wing LAOS chief served as a junior government coalition partner during the 2011-2012 period.