Greek lawmakers asked for the prosecution of a former socialist defense minister on charges of bribery and money laundering in connection with a submarine procurement deal, while at the same time the party proposed a simultaneous confiscation of his assets, sources said on Monday.
A committee meeting was held on Monday afternoon.
The former defence minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who served between 1996 and 2000 has denied any wrongdoing. In the mid-1990s, Tsohatzopoulos was only narrowly defeated in a vote to become PASOK chairman and thus Prime Minister.
Under Greek law, Tsohatzopoulos can only be tried on money-laundering charges. All other possible offenses have expired under the generous statute of limitations Greece reserves for its politicians.
On its part, main opposition New Democracy (ND) party backed the proposal by ruling Pasok to bring criminal charges against Tsohatzopoulos, while further suggesting that his indictment include espionage charges, namely, violating the law on the disclosure of state secrets.
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