Developments in the Siemens cash-for-contracts scandal have been radical. The committee investigating the case had Wednesday a rather stormy session. Businessman Marios Katsikas, who is the allegedly recipient of a controversial email sent March 2008 ordering money be deposited to the bank account of a “cabinet man” according to the official translation testified before the committee. In his statements, the businessman denied knowing Siemens chief in Greece Mihalis Christoforakos. However, a new document has implicated Mr Katsikas with Siemens. In the meantime, a PASOK deputy provided the committee with an e-mail sent by Antonis Samaras’ relative Evangelos Sekeris to Mr Samaras. Sekeris, who was working for Siemens, asked the ND head to put in a good word for him to Mihallis Christoforakos. The ND President reacted strongly.
Tensions Run High
Tension ran high during the sitting of the committee investigating the Siemens scandal over the conditions under which an e-mail sent implicating a former Conservative minister leaked.
Both the ND and SYRIZA deputies blasted the chairman of the committee, Sifis Valyrakis, for his handlings that undermine the committee’s credibility. They then denied that the controversial e-mail was included in the brief.
The ND deputies have strongly insisted that the controversial document do not relate to any minister of the Karamanlis administrator and that the phrase “give the balance of the 50 percent deposit for the cabinet man” was a mistranslation by the Foreign Ministry.
In his testimony, businessman Marios Katsikas said that the money found in his bank account in Geneva was given to him for the purchase of a real estate on behalf of Mr Papadogiannakis. The money was returned to him since the two men failed to reach an agreement.
Petalotis: “We Shouldn’t Jump to Conclusions”
“We should not jump to conclusions because they may not be true,” commented government spokesman Giorgos Petalotis when asked to give his opinion on the latest developments in the Siemens case.
He then stressed that the work of the parliamentary committees should not be hampered with speculations, misunderstandings and leaks that cast clouds.
“Therefore, we should be careful in our estimations and deal the operation of the committees with seriousness,” added Petalotis.
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