Corruption Twists: Former Greek Minister Leaves Jail, Former Mayor Goes Back

ATHENS – A former Greek defense minister convicted of stealing scores of millions from contracts in a money-laundering scheme has been released from jail on health grounds for a second time pending another appeal, while a former Mayor of Thessaloniki is going back for embezzling city funds.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos, 79, was a leading member of the PASOK Socialists that have vanished after backing austerity measures. He led the scandal-ridden defense ministry from 1996-2001 and in his career headed six other ministries.

The former mayor, Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, a one-time champion sprinter, was sentenced to eight years in prison in a second conviction. His first resulted in a 12-year sentence for stealing more than 17 million euros ($19.97 million) but he served only two years and five months and was released after he too said he was suffering from poor health.

Papageorgopoulos has denied all the charges. He will remain free until a higher court hears his appeal. The court also convicted Thessaloniki’s former Secretary-General of money laundering and handed him an eight-year suspended prison sentence but no jail time.

Papageorgopoulos was originally given a life sentence, which was reduced on appeal before he was released. “I have been treated unfairly,” he said after his first release. “I was in prison for no reason.”

Tsochatzopoulos, widely disliked in Greece for living a luxurious lifestyle during a crushing austerity crisis that saw many people’s lives devastated, had had been given a 19-year sentence in 2013 but now has been released twice because he said he had a heart condition after serving less than a total of five years with no accounting of where the money went.

His assets had been confiscated, including a million-dollar mansion he and his wife Vicky Stamati, 55, lived in under the Acropolis on a fashionable walkway. She had also been convicted in the scheme and jailed but was released after saying she was depressed and because she’s a mother.

He told reporters after he left a high-security prison that, “I would like to thank my wife above all, who throughout this entire time, alone and despite abandoned by everyone – acquaintances, friends and others – kept up the fight and ensured the best possible outcome,” for him.

The last time he was released, the couple were seen dining on lobster spaghetti at an expensive seaside tavern although they said they were broke and had no money.

While prisoners are allowed to leave jail early if their health is poor it wasn’t reported if anyone other than high-profile politicians have been able to do so.