Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos and Alternate Justice Minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos on Tuesday criticised an announcement issued by the Union of Public Prosecutors of Greece concerning recent legislation which allows the use of illegally obtained evidence to support a case in court.

The union had expressed doubts about the purpose of the measures passed into law, questioning whether these were constitutional. The amendment was attached to the law for same-sex partnership agreement and allows the use of illegally obtained evidence in cases which are investigated by the Public Prosecutor for Financial Crimes and the Public Prosecutor for Crimes of Corruption.

Five members of the prosecutors’ union have already resigned protesting for the union’s method of operating.

Mr. Paraskevopoulos defended the constitutionality of the law saying the constitutionally protected principles of privacy and protection of personal information had to be weighed against the right to judicial protection and a hearing that includes the citizen’s right to seek justice.

Mr. Papangelopoulos expressed surprise that any Greek prosecutors “would prefer drastic reductions to wages and pensions and that the Greek people pay onerous taxes, rather than that tax dodgers pay their taxes and legal obligations.”