Four-time convicted murderer and racketeer Panagiotis Vlastis, 45, known for his audacious prison escape attempt via helicopter confessed for the first time to his involvement in two high-profile kidnappings. He admitted that he was the mastermind of the kidnapping of shipping magnate Pericles Panagopoulos at gunpoint in 2009 who was released after his family paid up an exorbitant ransom. He also admitted that he was behind the kidnapping of businessman Yiannis Zonas in 2001.

He spoke harshly of his cousin, Litsa: “That sponge robbed me of 1.5 million euros and not the 250,000 euros that she said she lost. She stole and just as I’m playing I want her to pay too.”

For three days, the long-term convict gave his version of all that happened to the police, speaking of a prison circuit and explosive devices placed in magistrates homes as well as his activities in extortion, blackmails and the selling of protection in a testimony that is the stuff blockbuster scripts are made of. On Wednesday, he will continue the next installment of his testimony.

Reports state that he ran his racquet from wiithin the prison walls, ordering associates to place explosive devices in magistrates’ homes. He said that he knows where his cousin and her son are, even though they are in a witness protection program, and he offered a veil of protection to his partner and lawyer who are being held in custody.

“Adamantia had nothing to do with the ransom money. I never gave her any money that I acquired illegally,” he said, refering to the woman he called “Mandoulini”. He congratulated the investigators in their detainment of Litsa and upon his arrival to testify handed out money to other inmates waiting before being brought to the judicial authorities. Each of them received 200-euro bills.