Former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos yesterday made his third appeal for early release from the high-security state prison at Korydallos where he is serving a 20-year sentence for laundering money and receiving bribes while in office under the socialist government PASOK.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos’s lawyer, Yiannis Pagoropoulos, yesterday submitted an appeal to the criminal appeals court for early release of the 77-year-old former politician, citing failing health and fear for his life as the reasons.

One year ago, Tsochatzopoulos’s wife, Vicky Stamatis, who had also served prison time for corruption, was released from jail after she managed to collect and post the 50,000 euro bail required. The criminal appeals court had previously denied Stamatis early release from prison based on her claims that she was destitute.

According to Article 105 paragraph 2 of the Penal Code, convicts over 65 years of age serving temporary jail sentences are required to carry out at least two-fifths of their sentence. Each day served by a prisoner 65 and older is counted double.