Maria Papaspyrou

Former justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos on Thursday requested a month-long extension to prepare his defense to a parliamentary committee investigating allegations that he sought to influence a judicial probe into the Novartis bribery affair.

Testifying on Friday in the probe into the alleged bribery scandal implicating Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis and Greek politicians and doctors, deputy prosecutor Ioannis Angelis alleged that there was an organized plan to jail three politicians, including former prime minister Antonis Samaras, on the eve of national elections last year. 

Testifying on Friday in the probe of the alleged bribery scandal implicating Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, Greek politicians and doctors, deputy prosecutor Ioannis Angelis alleged that there was an organized plan to jail three politicians, including former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, on the eve of national elections last year. 

The head of the Athens prosecutor's office, Ilias Zagoraios, is to continue the investigation into July's deadly fires on the eastern coast of Attica after Supreme Court prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou backtracked on her request to delay its completion until a report by a top public administration official has been taken into account.

Supreme Court prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou on Tuesday back-pedalled on her request to delay the completion of a report on the deadly blaze in east Attica until the General Inspector of Public Administration has sent her separate findings, after facing intense criticism.

An inquiry into July's wildfires is being extended after Supreme Court prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou asked that a report prepared by Greece's top public administration official be taken into account and due to the fact that a new expert study has been sent to the prosecutor leading the probe.

The general inspector for public administration, Maria Papaspyrou, has called for local authority officials to face disciplinary action following last week's serious flooding at Mandra in western Attica, where flash floods last November resulted in the deaths of 20 people.

The General Inspector of Public Administration, Maria Papaspyrou, is to face Parliament's ethics and transparency committee on Tuesday following claims by opposition New Democracy according to which she has not shown objectivity in her role.

The locker and pump room of the municipal sports stadium in Mandra, western Attica, was built over a stream illegally, an inspection has found, making it the second municipal property to be found in serious violation of zoning rules.