Vicky Stamati

Akis Tsochadzopoulos, a former defense minister convicted in 2013 to 19 years in prison for corruption, stepped out of the Greek capital's Korydallos Prison on Tuesday after being granted early release.

"I am not at my best. I need to take care of myself," the 79-year-old, who was released on the grounds of poor health, told reporters waiting for him outside the prison.

Diogenes the Cynic, the ancient Greek philosopher, was probably the man who invented “the finger” insult.

The historian of philosophy Diogenes Laertios wrote that the cynical philosopher Diogenes made the gesture to orator Demosthenes in the 4th century BC in Athens.

Vicky Stamati, wife of former minister and convicted Akis Tsohatzopoulos, was set free after three years in prison following the decision of the Appeal Court.

Vicky Stamati was jailed on corruption charges and money laundering.

Former socialist PASOK ministers Vaso Papandreou and Yiannos Papantoniou are taking the stand at the trial of former PASOK defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos who is appealing against his 20-year conviction on charges of criminal action in the purchase of German type 214 submarines and money laundering.

Former socialist minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos’ trial for defense procurements and money-laundering began again on Wednesday following an adjournment last month. Former socialist PASOK prime minister Costas Simitis and the current socialist PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos to the stand to testify ahead of the five-membered Felony Appeal Court.

The local police beat last week was mostly dominated by news of the escape, from a psychiatric ward, and subsequent surrender of Vicky Stamati, the wife of imprisoned ex-minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

Stamati herself was convicted and is serving time for money laundering.

Vicky Stamati, wife of former defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, being held at Dromokaitio Psychiatric Institution after her escape has requested to testify before prosecutor Grigoris Peponis.

Vicky Stamati is back at Dromokaitio mental facility while the woman believed to have helped her escape is now being questioned by the police along with her daughter. Sources state that she may be tried as an accomplice for offering aid to Stamati.

Vicky Stamati, the wife of jailed former socialist minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos who escaped from the Dromokaitio Psychiatric Hospital yesterday was found and arrested by the Greek police on Friday.

According to preliminary information, the police arrested the woman at Panagitsa Church located in the area of Haidari, a western suburb of Athens.

A huge manhunt is on to locate the wife of jailed former socialist minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Vicky Stamati, who escaped from the Dromokaitio Psychiatric Hospital. The first investigations into her disappearance are centered around the laxity concerning the woman's surveillance at the mental facility and on claims circulating around the internet that her son, aged 7, is with her.