Bail

A Serb man was ordered jailed pending trial and two others were released on bail late on Thursday after appearing before an investigating judge on the Greek island of Zakynthos in the beating death of an American tourist.

A court in Crete has found two 22-year-old British nationals guilty of the rape of a young woman, also a British national, on the island during the summer of 2015 when she was out with friends celebrating her 18th birthday.

The two suspects were handed five-year suspended jail sentences, pending appeal, with bail set at 5,000 euros each by June 16.

Former Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos will be released from prison after posting the necessary bail of 200,000 euros. Mr. Tsochatzopoulos, who was serving a 20-year sentence after being found guilty of receiving bribes via military procurement contracts, reportedly collected the bail money via friend donations.

An Athens court has rejected an appeal by former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos for the reduction of a bail payment of 200,000 euros, a term of his early release.

The 77-year-old, who was handed a 20-year sentence for money laundering in 2013, was released from Korydallos Prison earlier this month due to frail health but had to return after failing to meet bail.

A judicial council on Wednesday ordered the release from prison of former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos because of his frail health in response to the latest in a series of appeals lodged by the veteran Socialist politician.

The specialized Anti-corruption department at the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office has brought charges against Minister of Health Ilko Semerdzhiev over having threatened to dismiss a director of the executive agency at the Ministry of Health unless he appoints as his deputy a person named by the minister, announced BNR.

A magistrate remanded a 65-year-old man from Attica in custody on Wednesday on allegations that he was the head of a usury ring in Ioannina, northwestern Greece.

Another five people who were arrested at the same time as the main suspect were bailed.

They are accused of being members of a criminal gang, usury, blackmail and money laundering.

Tsenko Chokov, the controversial mayor of Galiche in northwestern Bulgaria, was released on bail by a court on Monday.

Chokov was imposed a bail of 10 000, while the measure ruled for his son, Martin Chokov, was changed from detention to house arrest.

A police officer accused of taking bribes was released on bail of 10,000 euros on Friday.

The suspect, an Attica traffic police sergeant, is accused of taking a 2,000-euro bribe from a tanker truck owner in exchange for making traffic violation fines worth 10,500 euros go away and returning the license of one of his vehicles.

The officer denies all charges.

The 33-year-old business partner of a 39-year-old man who was murdered last week in the area of Rodias near Iraklio on Crete, was remanded in custody Friday, along with another suspect, 25, who was nabbed on Thursday.