Responses from SYRIZA and Alexis Tsipras are requested by government spokesman Yannis Oikonomou after the testimony of his secretary. Christou Kalogritsa in a special court in a television license case.

“Following Ms. Ethalia Diamanti’s sworn testimony about the routes of black money between Mr. Nikos Pappas, Christos Kalogritsa and Artemis Artemiou in order to fund SYRIZA and its journalistic divisions, the questions are relentless and Mr. Tsipras personally must give clear answers. the Greek people. Answers to everything that has been hypocritically denied for years,” Mr Economou said.

He added: “Did Mr. Tsipras know about the activities of Mr. Pappas, his closest and oldest associate? Why does he still support him and cover politically? How many bags and how much did they end up in the bins of SYRIZA? Instead of preaching, Mr. Tsipras and SYRIZA must answer these relentless questions.”

Testimony of Kalogritsa’s secretary: “Envelopes and bags of money were missing”

It is noted that yesterday Ethalia Diamanti, personal secretary of businessman Christos Kalogritsa, testified in the Special Court of Ministerial Responsibility, which is hearing the 2016 television licenses case.

According to APE-MBE, a witness reported that “envelopes and bags of money were coming out of Mr. Kalogritsa’s office, which were money to help the party.”

Ms. Diamanti stated that the businessman was asked to help the SYRIZA enterprise establish a television station that would be a party channel run by Mr. Pappas and the party, and added that Mr. Kalogritsa was asked to “borrow” his name to set up the channel.

The secretary of Mr. Kalogritsa for 40 years (who is accused along with former Minister of State Nikos Pappa) added that money was given to both journalists and other people who planned the work of the channel and the newspaper (together with the newspaper it will also be published on the channel).

He also stated that Mr. Pappas visited Mr. Kalogritsa every day, sometimes twice a day. Before Mr. Pappas went to Maximos, he walked past the office of Mr. Kalogritsa’s company, they talked for about an hour and left. According to APE-MPE, the witness noted that the businessman went to Maximos several times and saw Mr. Pappa and others there.

At the same time, Mrs. Diamanti referred to the Cypriot lawyer Artemis Artemiou, to whom she pointed out that before paying the 1st installment, he promised that the money was in Cyprus and Switzerland and was being received. He also noted that in the businessman’s office, Mr. Pappas told Mr. Artemiou, “Artemis, tell Kalogritsa that the money will come.”

The witness repeated that “a lot of money is spent on the party”, while specifying that Mr. Artemiu appeared in September 2016 and said that he wanted to help financially in the creation of the channel.

The trial continues today, and the court has decided to subpoena brothers Samer and Wael Khouri of the construction company Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) to testify on January 20, 2023. The corresponding petition was filed with the court by the lawyers of Mr. Kalogritsa.

What the lawyers of Kalogritsa-Papa say

Lawyers for the businessman, Andreas Loverdos and Angelos Karaalios, said in a statement that “there are now a number of key witnesses who have testified and it is clear from their testimony that Mr. Pappas has violated his duties.”

Yiannis Mantzouranis, T. Mantas and V. Georgakopoulos, lawyers for Mr. Pappa, say in a statement: and invested “a lot of money, seven-figure sums” in his son’s participation in a competition for television licenses, and in the creation and use of a journalistic team. That is, he confirmed that Mr. Kalogritsas did not just put his name on the television license application, that he was not a “front man”, but that he invested funds and supervised the preparation and participation of his family in the competition. He also noted that Mr. Kalogritsas took the time and made personal efforts to find a partner. And how, years later, he decided to sue the Khouri family when he himself was called upon – after the court’s decision – to return 3 million euros from a deal between them.

“Ms. Diamanti, answering questions from the prosecutor, admitted that her reports are the result of her “crisis” and the information she received from … a half-open door. Not participating, of course, in meetings and not having the same knowledge of the issues under consideration. As he admitted: “I didn’t listen to all the conversations, I listened to the limit. I was not always present.” She also referred to Mr. Kalogritsa’s large circle of acquaintances and his contacts with politicians from many political spheres, businessmen, etc.

“Given the undeniable fact of Ms. Diamanti’s dependent working relationship with Mr. Kalogritz and her possible influence from the employer, nothing new emerged from the meeting.

“Personal judgments, unsubstantiated “information” and some witticisms to create a political impression dominated. It turned out that Mr. Kalogritsas tried to get a television license, but his failure to pay the first installment made him free. By decision of the competent committee.