ATHENS, (AP) – Greek judges have jailed a ninth lawmaker in connection with a criminal investigation into Nazi-inspired Golden Dawn — the country’s third most popular party.
Ilias Kassidiaris, a prominent Golden Dawn lawmaker, faces illegal firearms charges that, if proved in court, carry a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
Authorities found two shotguns in his house near Athens, and claim Kassidiaris illegally modified them and planned to supply them for use in criminal acts by Greece ‘s Golden Dawn members.
Kassidiaris rejected the charges as “a joke,” arguing Thursday that the guns carry legal documentation.
The Golden Dawn press spokesperson had not been incarcerated after his first deposition, but will now head to prison after his deposition for possession of firearms with intent to distribute to a criminal organization.
Kasidiaris went to courts without his attorney Pavlos Sarakis, while press reports have it that his defense will be undertaken by Yannis Antoniadis who is also representing jailed Golden Dawn leader Nikos Mihaloliakos.
The same reports note that Kasidiaris has decided on a change of defense, thus hiring Mr Antoniadis, perhaps indicating a change of defense for all Golden Dawn inmates.
He was earlier charged with running a criminal organization. Half of the 18 lawmakers elected with Golden Dawn in 2012 have now been jailed pending trial, including leader Nikos Michaloliakos.
No trial date has been set.
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