Akis Tsochadzopoulos,former Greek Defense Minister Jailed for Corruption -Monday March 4,2013

Akis Tsochadzopoulos(73)a former Greek defence minister was sentenced to eight years in prison on Monday after a court found him guilty of submitting false income declarations, in a corruption case.The court also fined 520,000 ($676,000) and ordered the seizure of his Acropolis-view home in central Athens.

However,Akis Tsochadzopoulos denied the allegations that he made the false declarations to conceal undeclared income from 2006 to 2009, hiding and has the automatic right to appeal.

Note

• Akis Tsochadzopoulos served as defence minister from 1996 to 2001 and development minister between 2001 and 2004, and was a prominent member of the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement, Pasok.The party dominated Greek politics for decades but saw its public support hammered after the financial crisis broke out in late 2009 

• Akis Tsochadzopoulos has been in custody since his arrest last year and is also due to stand trial later this year on more serious corruption and money-laundering charges related to alleged corruption over a submarine contract.