Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-12-25

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Arrested hospital president granted extension to testify on Friday

[01] Arrested hospital president granted extension to testify on Friday

Haris Tobouloglou, 54, was arrested on Tuesday over charges that he demanded a 25,000 euro bribe from an advertising company which had won a bid at the state hospital before he would approve the final contract, police said. An unnamed 40-year-old man was also arrested as an accomplice.

A prosecutor charged him on Wednesday with committing a felony and gave him to Friday to prepare his deposition.

According to the charges filed by the advertising agency's president, Tobouloglou demanded a bribe from the company, which was contracting for a programme related to the study and prevention of childhood obesity. The contract was worth 190,000 euros. After several meetings this past week, the company handed over to the hospital president 25,000 euros in marked banknotes, which he in turn gave to his accomplice. Both were arrested immediately by police.

Also on Tuesday, the party of New Democracy (ND) expelled him from membership over unethical conduct.

Tobouloglou has denied all charges, claiming he was set up: "It is a frame-up. The money I took was for a gift to the hospital. The specific company was remiss in its obligations and that's why it was afraid of losing the bid," he told the press.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, who on Tuesday had called for the hospital director's resignation, said on Wednesday that the government "will show zero tolerance towards corruption phenomena" and called for his exemplary punishment.

At a press conference, Georgiadis said the prime minister had been informed months ago there was a problem with this individual, and he praised the police over their operation to arrest him.

Tobouloglou, he said, had been appointed by the Aglaia Kyriakou Foundation, whose permanent member he is, an appointment the government is obliged by law to accept, and said he planned to meet with the board and request his resignation.

"Tobouloglou's arrest while in flagrante delicto proves that under the present government and the specific prime minister, there is no chance that anyone can believe they can get away with some ties to or privileged relations with a political party," Georgiadis said, adding that the premier has ordered that "everyone face the consequences of the law."

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