Former Minister of National Defense Akis Tsohatzopoulos has denied allegations of bribery and claimed that German firm Ferrostaal never approached him. When quizzed by the Felony Appeal Court judges about the Ferrostaal’s business, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos admitted that the company spent tens of millions to secure the submarine contract, but he was not involved.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos argued that “the Minister of National Defense had no need of negotiating with agents, he spoke directly to foreign Ministers of National Defense. We didn’t go to do business, we set business interests aside. Middlemen and bribes concern others”, before being interrupted by presiding judge Katsianis, who informed him that “we are concerned because you are being accused”.
When asked by judge Panagiotopoulos “how did the Greek state resist that wave of bribes”, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos claimed that “the reliability and capabilities of every politician are at stake. If that happens, it happens under the table and involves people who act under the table”. The former Minister also characterized the German court rulings as “fairy tales”.
