Greek ex-ministers face prosecution over land scandal

Wed, 17 Nov 2010

Athens - Greece's parliament voted on Wednesday to prosecute three former ministers over a land-swap scandal between the state and a wealthy monastery that cost the government at least 100 million euros (140 million dollars).

Lawmakers agreed that three former minister who served in the previous conservative government should face charges of breach of faith.

The case, known as the Vatopedi scandal, centered on the wealthy 1,000-year-old monastery on Mount Athos received prime, state-owned property in exchange for cheap rural land.

The government lost more than 100 million euros in the land- exchange which served to settle the monastery's land claims.

The recommendation by the governing Socialists for another two former conservative ministers to face the same charges was rejected.

All five former ministers have denied any wrongdoing.

In 2008, two cabinet ministers ended up resigning over the scandal that helped bring down the conservative government last year and shocked the public - where more than 90 per cent of Greeks are Orthodox Christians.

The current government has also launched legal action against the monastery, seeking 10 million euros in damages. An Athens court is expected to discuss the lawsuit in January.

A recent poll showed that the majority of Greeks are willing to accept a series of austerity measures aimed at cutting the country's massive debt and avoid bankruptcy if politicians and businessmen involved in scandals are brought to justice.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/353893,face-prosecution-land-scandal.html.