Greek corruption prosecutor Gavriil Maillis summoned 13 German officials of German-based companies Atlas and Rheinmetall AG on Thursday to testify in relation to an armaments kickback case for the procurement of submarines and anti-aircraft missiles.
The kickbacks are linked to the submarine integrated sensor underwater systems and purchase of ASRAD anti-aircraft missiles. The 13 face charges of bribery and money laundering in payment made on behalf of the National Defence Ministry and have been called to testify in December.
The case is based on facts from German court files and on bank accounts of former Atlas Representative Panagiotis Efstathiou and former Defence Ministry supply procurement deputy dirctor Antonis Kantas. Mr. Efstathiou and Mr. Kantas have already been charged in the case.
Mr. Maillis is expected to issue more summons over the coming days to at least another 10 officers.
The case file shows that illegal transactions involved a total of 38 million euros with assessments placing the total of these kickbacks to nearly 60 million euros. In Greece, 35 nationals have already been tried.
