Former Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos was taken back to prison after his family failed to get together to sum of 200,000 euro needed for his bail.
The former minister returned to prison after a a heart surgery in a public hospital.
77-year-old Akis Tsochatzopoulos has been convicted to 20 years imprisonment for bribes and money laundering in the context of procurement programs while he was defense minister.
Right after the court decision to release Tsochatzopoulos on bail, his lawyers and his family said that it was impossible to find the money.
On April 5th, the five-member Court of Appeals for Felonies decided to release from prison former PASOK Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos due to health reasons.Akis Tsochatzopoulos was convicted to 20 years imprisonment for bribes and money laundering. Total time he spent in prison is five years.
By a majority of three to two votes, the court decided to accept the former minister’s request to suspend the 20-year imprisonment. It was the fifth request the ex minister had submitted.
Earlier, the prosecutor had proposed his release on bail.
The prosecutor spoke of excessive and irreparable damage to the health of Tsochatzopoulos. The convict “is hospitalized and the postoperative course is slow due to multiple health problems,” the prosecutor stated adding there were “serious indications for imminent health damage also due to his advanced age.”
In February his lawyers asked for his early release due to health problems and saying that “they fear for his life.” Judges rejected the request saying that Korydallos prison would not cause irreparable damage” to his health.
Tsochatzopoulos bank accounts have been frozen after his conviction.
Beginning of the week, his wife had claimed that a well-known Greek had offered to provide the amount for the bail.
According to Greek media, there were also attempts to get together the bail amount through a real estate of his daughter. Also this effort failed.
The convict was brought to the hospital ward of Korydallos prison in Athens.
