Athens appeals court acquits party leader Kasselakis in foreign assets case

File photo. [InTime News]

An Athens appeals tribunal has overturned a little tribunal ruling against Stefanos Kasselakis, the person of the Movement for Democracy enactment and erstwhile SYRIZA leader, clearing him of charges linked to Greece’s overseas plus legislation.

The first-instance tribunal had sentenced Kasselakis to a suspended 30-month situation term and imposed a €50,000 good implicit allegations that helium retained concern interests successful the United States aft becoming SYRIZA person successful September 2023, successful breach of rules designed to forestall conflicts of interest.

During the entreaty hearing, the authoritative recommended acquittal, arguing there was nary grounds of intent and that Kasselakis was unaware of the applicable Greek ineligible restrictions aft spending astir of his big beingness successful the US.

Prosecutors had focused connected his alleged engagement successful the US-based institution Tiptree Marine and connected OSIOS, a institution linked to loans to SYRIZA. However, the tribunal said grounds failed to amusement Kasselakis held immoderate existent information successful Tiptree Marine when helium was elected enactment person astatine SYRIZA. 

Kasselakis testified that helium had lived successful the US for 21 years, managed businesses there, and lone entered authorities successful 2023 aft being approached by Alexis Tsipras, whom helium succeeded astatine SYRIZA. 

According to Greek law, governmental leaders and nationalist officials are explicitly prohibited from owning oregon managing overseas businesses, straight oregon indirectly.