Pericles Panagopoulos described his abduction in January 2009, as well as the eight-day stay in the hands of the kidnappers.
Shortly before he started his story to him turned one of the defendants, who admitted being involved in the kidnapping before the magistrate. "I want you to know that I'm glad to see you, even though our roles are now switched and now you are free, and I am held. If I had known earlier what kind of a person you are you wouldn’t be here now," said Apostolos Petrakis, adding that he apologies for his doing because "this would be an act of hypocrisy". The President of the judicial council replied that "It would be better to show your repentance in practice by giving back the 30 million euros, which you took as a ransom".