Giorgos Apostolopoulos, the man who allegedly attempted to bribe MP Pavlos Chaikalis, appeared in front of the appeals prosecutor at 2:00 pm today.
Apostolopoulos, who faces felony charges for attempting to bribe a lawmaker, appeared in front of appeals prosecutor Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos.
Apostolopoulos’ lawyer stated to the press after the conclusion of his client’s testimony “Mr. Apostolopoulos was called to give explanations on Chaikalis’ allegations. We responded immediately and did not ask for an extension and clarified the reality.
No criminal offense or political issue exists as Mr. Chaikalis claims. The truth is, as Mr. Apostolopoulos testified it, without montage. Political faux pas were committed by Mr. Chaikalis. The videotapes have gone through a montage. Apostolopoulos revealed discussions that took place in order for Chaikalis’ ethical integrity to be revealed. The facts do not have the dimensions presented. The penal and the political issue concern the other side.”
Meanwhile, Chaikalis will be called by the prosecutor for a supplementary deposition. Chaikalis has to give the deposition before the next ballot for the presidential election on Tuesday. The prosecution will also call actor Lakis Lazopoulos, who is responsible for editing the DVD Chaikalis presented as evidence.
President of the Parliament Committee for Institutions and Transparency Christos Markogiannakis went to the Supreme Court of Greece today and asked prosecutor Efterpi Koutzamani to speed up the investigation.
According to appeals prosecutor Isidoros Doghiakos, Chaikalis had not named Apostolopoulos as the person who offered him the bribe. He also said that the investigation took place in secrecy due to the subtlety of the case.
SYRIZA on PM’s decision to file lawsuit against MP Chaikalis
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ nervous reaction that with an unprecedented action decided to abandon his institutional role and to act as a private and file a lawsuit against a deputy raises questions, noted main opposition SYRIZA in an announcement issued on Saturday on Samaras’ decision to file a lawsuit against Pavlos Chaikalis.
The main opposition party said that someone would expect from Mr. Samaras a more cool-headed reaction by asking from justice the full investigation of the case. Someone will also expect the total complaint against the person alleged to have acted as a middleman and not to identify himself with his defense line, said SYRIZA and concluded “either the prime minister has bad advisers or the worst of them is panic.”
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