Greek State will "expropriate" deposits of major offenders

Legislation promoted by Justice minister Antonis Roupakiotis will provide for the liquidation of blocked deposits in bank accounts or suspects accused of serious crimes such as money laundering and smuggling, in favor of the State, public entities and local governments.

According to sources, the setting applies to all pending cases that so far have not reached the first instance degree of judicial liquidation, i.e. an audience. Among other things, the "unfreezing" of bank accounts and the liquidation of the deposits of people accused of serious offenses will be activated in the cases of Energa, Hellas Power and Lavrentis Lavrentiadis, which means that this provision will be applied retroactively, as it is a provision of a procedural nature and not of criminal law.

The legislation, which will be included in the bill for drugs, is expected to enable the services of the Finance ministry to seize "frozen" bank accounts of those accused or suspected of money laundering, tax evasion and smuggling.

With the implementation of this regulation the Justice ministry hopes to collect quite a few million euros, which are reserved and unused in bank accounts of the accused or suspects. It will also allow defendants, if they consent to a pledge, to qualify for the advantages of the relevant law.