Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-11-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Prosecutor says 64 should stand trial for 1997 Siemens-OTE deal

[02] Piraeus Port Authority board approves revised amicable agreement with Cosco's PCT

[01] Prosecutor says 64 should stand trial for 1997 Siemens-OTE deal

Deputy prosecutor for financial crimes Galinos Bris delivered his 2,368-page report on Monday after an investigation into a 1997 multimillion agreement, known as the "8002 contract". The "8002 contract" is considered to be the biggest case of corruption involving large amounts of money over a long period of time. The investigation into the case started in 2006 by the then prosecutor for financial crimes Panagiotis Athanassiou.

Bris has recommended that a total of 64 people should be indicted for the charges for active and passive bribery. Some of them are also facing charges for embezzlement of state funds, punishable by life imprisonment.

According to the report, the "nützliche Aufwendungen" or "useful expenses" - as the multinational company's officials referred to kickbacks - estimated at 70 million euros, are considered a loss for the state, as the kickbacks were then rolled into the cost of implementating the project. The report specifically accuses former OTE executives of not protecting the interests of the company and, in addition, of not acting based on the real needs of the company, which was a largely state-owned company at that time.

In his recommendation, Bris asks for the indictment of 17 German nationals, former executives of the multinational company.

[02] Piraeus Port Authority board approves revised amicable agreement with Cosco's PCT

The business plan provides for the construction and exploitation of West Pier III of the Piraeus port container terminal by PCT, the construction on behalf of OLP of a new Oil Terminal and the refitting of Pier II and East Pier Container Terminal III with new machinery. The works are expected to be completed by 2021 the latest. The capacity aimed for is over 7,200,000 TEUs (containers).

The state privatisation agency, Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, is OLP's majority shareholder with a 74.14 stake.

On September 9, the Court of Audit had found the original amicable agreement in violation of the law. It approved the new investment plan - amounting to 230 million euros - on September 23. According to unions representatives, the Court of Audit terms included the payment of a fixed annual rent paid for the future West Pier III, and the duration of the suspension of the guaranteed offset given by PCT.

After the shareholder approval on Tuesday, the final draft of the agreement will be forwarded by the Shipping & Aegean ministry to the Parliament for ratification.

Also ongoing at the same time is the itnernational tendering for a sale of 67 pct of OLP's shares. Cosco is one of five bidders interested in Piraeus, Greece's central port.

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