Government suspects ‘judicial ring’ behind postponement of Siemens trials

Some judges are in cahoots with major opposition party New Democracy, government believes

In an attempt to resolve the deadlock created in the Siemens court case, where the trial was postponed for an indefinite period because the court accepted objections of the foreign defendants that the charge sheet had not been translated in their native language, (French and German) rendering proceedings invalid, Greek Minister of Justice Nikos Paraskevopoulos will meet with Supreme Court Prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou, Thursday requesting the trial be expedited as a matter of absolute priority. The impasse in the trial has led the government to suspect a ‘judicial ring’ linked to major opposition party New Democracy is operating to stall proceedings. The first case concerns an investigation into the digitalisation by OTE of the company’s call centres, while the second case involves charges of bribery by Siemens of Greek politicians, including former Minister Tasos Mantelis. The suspects include former Siemens and OTE executives, who are accused of money laundering, offering and accepting bribes and acting as accomplices in the above acts. Adding to the furore surrounding the OTE-Siemens case came the announcement on Wednesday that the trial of former minister Tasos Mantelis for accepting a bribe believed linked to the controversial contract may also be indefinitely adjourned, due to the death of the presiding judge.