Maffei

Following intense pressure from its allies, Germany appears to be inching toward approving deliveries of high-tech Leopard 2 main battle tanks that Ukraine and its biggest Western backers hope will boost Kyiv's fight against Russian invaders.

German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has offered to sell 88 second-hand Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine. The offer apparently includes training in Germany, spare parts and ammunition, according to documents obtained by the DPA.

Ernst & Young announced on Friday a tender for the sale of the assets of Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELVO), in the capacity of special administrator for the troubled state company. Interest needs to be declared by April 2.
Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said on Friday that seven investors have already expressed informal interest.

Bulgaria has sent a request to four European countries for proposals for 150 armored vehicles, the defense ministry said on Tuesday, reports Reuters.

The Balkan state, which joined NATO in 2004, has called for bids in a 1.46 billion levs ($836.24 million) tender from Germany, Finland, France, and Switzerland, the ministry said in a statement.

Swiss-French banker Jean-Claude Oswald, who is facing charges of money laundering and bribery in connection to an arms procurement program, went missing on Tuesday after removing his monitoring bracelet, Greece's Justice Ministry said.

Oswald, who appeared in an Athens court earlier in the day where his case was being heard, destroyed the device's strap and disappeared, it said.

Eleven people, including former Defense Ministry officials and arms trader Thomas Liakounakos, are to face trial on charges of breach of faith in connection with the procurement of 170 Leopard 2 tanks from German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann when Socialist stalwart Yiannos Papantoniou was minister between 2001 and 2003.

Appeals court prosecutor Pantelis Stragalis on Wednesday proposed the indictment of 11 people in connection with kickbacks allegedly pocketed from the acquisition of self-propelled howitzers manufactured by German firm Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW).

A Swiss-French banker alleged to be a key figure in the Siemens cash-for-contracts scandal and implicated in corrupt arms deals is to spend Easter in Greek custody after testifying before an investigating magistrate.

The 55-year-old, identified in the media as Jean-Claude Oswald, was extradited to Greece earlier last week following his arrest in Abu Dhabi.

A team of German prosecutors is expected in Athens before Christmas to exchange information with their Greek counterparts regarding corrupt arms procurement deals, Kathimerini understands.

 Prosecutors getting close to key officials who signed off on deals a decade ago