Greek judge referred to disciplinary council in Vgenopoulos case

A Greek judge has been referred to the disciplinary council over her handling of a case involving former Laiki strongman Andreas Vgenopoulos, widely held responsible in Cyprus for the collapse of the island’s banking system.

The development followed an inquiry against Georgia Tsatani, ordered by the head of Greece’s supreme court, Vasiliki Thanou.

Tsatani had closed the case against Vgenopoulos but Thanou ordered a disciplinary probe against her following protests from Cyprus over the handling.

It was not clear whether the case would be reopened if Tsatani was found to be culpable. Greek media reported however, that it will be.

Last week, Vgenopoulos gave Greek authorities a statement regarding allegations of his involvement in the publication of misleading bulletins by the now-defunct lender in 2009 and 2010.

After delivering his written deposition, Vgenopoulos told reporters that the case had already been closed by Greek authorities, which, coupled with his argument that the case is the remit of the Greek judicial system, constitutes precedent.

“This has all been much ado about nothing,” he said.

Attorney-general Costas Clerides said the development showed that some people were in a hurry to celebrate and others to level accusations.

The procedure to dispense justice and for the rule of law to prevail continued despite the difficulties abroad and on the island, he added.

 

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.