Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-02

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Full investigation into Siemens case begins

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Full investigation into Siemens case begins

Later in the day, Zagorianos will receive an evidence file containing more than 30 dossiers, put together by First-instance court public prosecutor Panagiotis Athanassiou concerning OTE and the C4I system.

Athanassiou ended a preliminary inquiry on Tuesday and confirmed that offences had been committed, pressing charges against "all parties responsible" for repeated counts of passive and active bribery, both individually and in collaboration with others, at the expense of the public sector (for the C4I system) and OTE.

He said the gain for the perpetrators and, conversely, the damage caused or threatened to the injured parties, was in excess of 150,000 euros. He also pressed charges for the legalising of income from illegal activities, or money-laundering, and for moral instigation and direct collusion in money-laundering.

During his investigation, the prosecutor questioned approximately 40 people as potential suspects for offences committed in connection with the case. It is now up to the magistrate heading the full investigation to press charges against the specific individuals charged with specific offences.

Further allegations of suspect dealings by Siemens in Greece, concerning its contracts with Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE), the sale of Patriot missiles and a defence system called Hermes, will form part of a separate case that is to be investigated further.

Athanassiou first received orders to conduct a probe into the case in 2006. A few months ago, he had headed a team of Greek public prosecutors to Germany and Switzerland in order to share evidence uncovered by local judicial investigations into the case.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photograph of Siemens' headquarters in Greece.

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The four counts of felony charges filed in the Siemens case, the General Price Index plunge oin the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) and the international economic crisis combined with the rise of inflation, were the main front-page items in Wednesdayâs dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Indictments filed against all responsible - Four counts of felony charges filed in Siemens scandal".

APOGEVMATINI: "PM Karamanlisâ rendezvous with history - Enough is enough; people want the guilty to be punished".

AVGHI: "Indictments without names - Concern over the new delay in the Siemens investigation".

AVRIANI: "Detailed inspection on (Hellenic Telecommunications Organization) OTE prepared by the Americans after the huge Siemens scandal".

CHORA: "Forty witnesses are left hanging - In search of the guilty individuals for four felonies in the Siemens case".

ELEFTHEROS: "(Papandreou) George is president (of SI) with the taxpayersâ money - Greek parliament funds the Socialist International Congress in Lagonisi".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Siemens case turns into cluster bomb - Indictments filed".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Siemens calls 'minister' - The rumours on the government minister".

ESTIA: "Political party refoundation - Precedes the state refoundation".

ETHNOS: "Minister rescued - Siemens case investigation is hastily closed".

KATHIMERINI: "Siemens investigation to be completed in 2009 - Examining magistrate files charges against all responsible, no political black money discovered".

LOGOS: "Transparency in spending - Inner Cabinet decides on inter-ministerial committee - Ministries' special accounts to be incorporated in the state budget".

NIKI: "Uncontrolled profiteering - Who made prices skyrocket in Greece".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Health sector targeted by new reactionist reforms".

TA NEA: "Siemens case covered up for fear of new revelations".

TO VIMA: "Greek economy in 18-month crisis - (Economy and Finance Minister George) Alogoskoufis warns of worse days to come".

VRADYNI: "(Public Power Corp.) DEH fuels high cost of living - Hot summer for our wallets".

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