Matsakis trial postponed again

THE TRIAL of MEP Marios Matsakis was postponed again yesterday after the State Prosecutor requested time to review the facts of the case.

The prosecutor said the facts of the case, related to illegal possession of antiquities, needed to be reviewed once more after a disagreement on the facts arose with defence lawyer Christos Klerides.

Matsakis’ parliamentary immunity has been lifted for the trial but the procedure is not allowed to interfere with his parliamentary duties.

The MEP is accused of failing to declare his vast collection of antiques, after police seized a large number of chests and urns during a raid on his home in the village of Pyrga.

He also faces separate charges of compounding a felony and corruption in connection with allegations that he offered to change his pathologist’s report in a case involving the shooting of a drug suspect.

The charges accuse the MEP of entering an agreement to change his report in exchange for money from a police officer facing investigation into the wounding of a drug suspect.

Matsakis was representing the injured drug suspect at the time. He denies both charges.

Matsakis’ defence lawyer requested that his client be excused from the next hearing because of his upcoming parliament duties in Brussels and Strasbourg.

The defence request was accepted by Judge Lemonia Kaoutzani.

The judge set the next trial date for September 20, while asking that Matsakis be present for the following court hearing on October 2.

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