Former Greek Transport Minister Tassos Mantelis’ appeal against his sentence for failing to declare cash he received from German electronics and engineering giant Siemens was adjourned for a second time, pushed back to Dec. 18.
Mantelis received a three-year suspended sentence in 2011 for submitting a false source-of-wealth declaration, the same charge that first brought down former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who got eight years for it – before a conviction on corruption and money-laundering charges brought 20 more.
The ex-minister admitted receiving money from Siemens but said it was an election campaign contribution rather than a bribe although he held an appointed office and didn’t have to campaign for it.
Mantelis accepted the equivalent of about 200,000 euros ($274,650) from Siemens, which admitted it offered bribes as a necessary part of doing business in Greece with politicians.
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