British Court Rules Out Extradition of Credit Millionaires to Greece

25 July 2014 / 17:07:25 GRReporter

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The Westminster Magistrates Court for extraditions in London ruled out that the accused of siphoning off Hellenic Postbank, Kyriakos Griveas and his wife Anastasia Vatsika, must be extradited and stand trial in Greece. Following this ruling, the attorneys of the couple will probably take the provided legal opportunity and file an appeal within 7 days. Otherwise, they will be immediately surrendered to the Greek authorities.
Shortly before the court ruling announcement, the businessman told Greek correspondents in London that he intended to return to Greece by September. "Even if the case is to be appealed, I want to return to testify before Greek authorities, before the investigation over Hellenic Postbank is concluded." He further added that he had already arranged for his professional and family engagements so as to be able to manage them from Greece. Nonetheless, Griveas said that he would surely appeal the ruling of the British court in order to have more time and organize his return to Greece.
The court session was closed on Thursday afternoon, following the closing statements of the couple’s attorney and the prosecutor representing the Greek authorities.
He pointed out that money laundering is among the 32 crimes listed in the European Arrest Warrant of no requirement for double criminality in the countries involved in extradition of wanted persons. Therefore, there is no point in discussing whether the charges serving as basis for the required extradition of the suspects are illegal actions according to British laws. Furthermore, the prosecutor pointed out that Greece is included in the list of regions under First Category, implying that regardless of the experts’ reports, there is no necessity for reviewing the prison conditions in the country. On these grounds he requested the extradition of Griveas and Vatsika in Greece.
In turn, the attorney stated that if the court assumes the fact that the defendants had committed the crime of money laundering, sufficient evidence that they had committed the crime should be submitted first. According to the attorney, this was not proven beyond doubt during the trial. Hence, he proclaimed the prosecution poorly grounded and said that because of this his clients should stay in Great Britain.