Greek Prosecutor Panos Panagiotopoulos has started a probe into the bribery of Greek MPs known as “Operation Moneybox”. He met with conservative Independent Greeks (ANEL) MP Pavlos Chaikalis late on Saturday. The latter submitted proof that there had been an attempt to bribe him made from a third person that he refused to name. The audio proof features a male voice that is not easy to recognize.

Mr. Panagiotopoulos began the investigation upon receiving the material, however he cannot confirm the allegations.

Mr. Chaikalis told Mr. Panagiotopoulos that there had been three meetings with the person who had tried to bribe him on December 5, December 6 and December 13. The person who approached him – a prominent businessman who moves in political and financial circles – also mentioned the names of other politicians in order to sway him.

According to the prosecutor, Mr. Chaikalis’ complaint has yet to be substantiated and is currently being probed.

Former news anchorman/ANEL MP Terence Quick said that Mr. Chaikalis has given the name to the Greek police.

On his part, main opposition Radical Left SYRIZA Spokesman Panos Skourletis spokesman asked to prosecutor to brief the political parties on Mr. Chaikalis’ allegations that someone attempted to bribe him as well as on the material he possesses, he said. Mr. Skourletis intervened in a program on private TV station ANT1, noting that when his party had refered to deputies’ briberies in order to vote for President of Republic, it was accused of poisoning the political life of the country.

“Today, it is proved that evidence exist,” he said and underlined that “the revelation is not taking place in neutral time and it is mandatory for the prosecution to brief the leaders of the political parties because the issue affects the electoral process”.