Another finding—this one concerning the former president of EDEK, Marinos Sizopoulos and the TAHAN case, has been referred to the Legal Service, which is being asked to decide for the second time in four years whether to bring criminal charges. This follows a previous decision in 2022, when the Attorney General ruled that no criminal offenses had been established in the case due to insufficient evidence.

Since then, the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority issued a damning report, on the basis of which the police conducted investigations.

Nine months of investigations

Both Marinos Sizopoulos and all the individuals named in the case appeared before the investigators.

“The investigative work has been completed, and the case file will be forwarded to the Legal Service in the coming days, after it has been reviewed by the Police Legal Department.”
Byron Vyronos – Police Spokesperson

Marinos Sizopoulos and three other individuals are accused of possibly committing four criminal offenses, namely bribery, fraud, forgery, and the circulation of a forged document.

A “golden” passport

The TAHAN case involved the sale of the company’s shares to an Iraqi investor and is one of the most high-profile scandals linking political figures to the naturalization program.

According to the findings, Marinos Sizopoulos played an active role in negotiations with a banking institution to settle a non-performing loan of TAXAN—in which he was a shareholder—amounting to 2,581,000 euros. The company’s shares were sold to an Iraqi investor for the purpose of securing a golden passport. However, the sales contract that was filed was forged.

Marinos Sizopoulos himself disputed the findings and denied any involvement.

Watch the report by Christoforos Nestoros: