The Masters of Corruption

[Ephilant]

More and more serious cases of corruption at the highest level are being exposed throughout Europe.
Things like the "Gorilla" scandal in Slovakia, the ongoing corruption scandals in Greece, Banking scandals involving the highest politicians in various countries, the current bribery scandal Hungary, the banking scandal in Ireland, etc. etc.
I thought it would be a good idea to start a new thread on this which could not just serve as a place to expose what is happening around us, but possibly point at links between those happenings?

Last night, Real News in Athens lobbed a bomb into the Greek parliament. Not just a hand grenade, a proper, nuclear charged bomb.
It was revealed that 3 members of the ruling ND party are being investigated in a money laundering scandal involving over 10 billion €. Who are the people involved/

Michalis Liapis, previous minister for Culture and Arts, who famously said he would

not tolerate political terrorism

after being implemented in the "Siemens scandal" and the investigation into the scandal by prosecutor Panagiotis Athanasiou was closed without any charges being made.

Giorgos Voulgarakis, former minister for the Marine, who famously stated that

if it's legal, it's moral

. He was previously investigated in the corruption case involving the Vatopedi monastry in Mount Athos.

Evangelos Meimarakis, CURRENT SPEAKER OF THE HELLENIC PARLIAMENT, and former minister of Defense...

Further more, Yiannis Stournaras, current minister for Finance admitted in Parliament that 32 current and former politicians are indeed under investigation by the Financial Fraud Police. In order to keep the pressure on, another Dialy, Proto Thema, published the names of those 32. Ekathimerini adds to the pressure by revealing that 7 of the 32 being investigated are 4 former PASOK ministers and 3 former ND Ministers.

It would seem that somebody is intending on a big clean up and is putting this in the lime light to avoid a repeat of the "Siemens scandal investigation" which was simply closed by political order, without charges of prosecutions

[Ephilant]

Under the 1997 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Bribery Convention, 39 countries have committed to making foreign bribery a crime. The Convention is a key instrument for curbing the export of corruption globally. The 39 countries are responsible for two-thirds of world exports and three-quarters of foreign investment.

The following table shows how these countries live up to their commitments

This table represents the situation in 2011.

you can read to full, sorry state of affairs here.

[Slim Buddha]

Under the 1997 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Bribery Convention, 39 countries have committed to making foreign bribery a crime. The Convention is a key instrument for curbing the export of corruption globally. The 39 countries are responsible for two-thirds of world exports and three-quarters of foreign investment.

The following table shows how these countries live up to their commitments

This table represents the situation in 2011.

you can read to full, sorry state of affairs here.

Ireland: No enforcement. No surprise there. Under the FF/PD regime, corruption was and instrument of public administration.

[C. Flower]

I see that Ireland is in the "No Enforcement" category.

The idea has been put about that gross robbery of public funds by politicians is something that happens only in poor countries.

In the UK Peter Mandelson said, in the Blair Government days, that "there is no reason why a Labour politician should not get very rich." Blair went on to demonstrate he was correct.

There were senior members of the US government who took the country to war in Iraq and were selling arms to themselves from the companies they owned.

Obama and his wife are thought virtuous as they are "only" multi millionaires, not billionaires.

In Ireland, uncounted amounts of public resources have been poured from the public purse into private pockets, particularly in the landowner, construction and construction materials sector. Policy was skewed to minimise public housing and push everyone into overpriced mortgage-funded houses. Housing and health policy is still being run to make tax-free presents of wealth to wealthy and powerful individuals. The same with drug prices and purchase by the HSE.

We have had tribunals that produced evidence of corruption in the sales of state assets, with no serious action taken after them.

This money doesn't come from nowhere - it is stolen from public taxes, or loaded onto prices.

Between this kind of corruption, and the thousands of trillions of international tax evasion going on along side it, it is not surprising that we are reverting to a medieval scale of social inequality.

[Slim Buddha]

I see that Ireland is in the "No Enforcement" category.

The idea has been put about that gross robbery of public funds by politicians is something that happens only in poor countries.

In the UK Peter Mandelson said, in the Blair Government days, that "there is no reason why a Labour politician should not get very rich." Blair went on to demonstrate he was correct.

There were senior members of the US government who took the country to war in Iraq and were selling arms to themselves from the companies they owned.

Obama and his wife are thought virtuous as they are "only" multi millionaires, not billionaires.

In Ireland, uncounted amounts of public resources have been poured from the public purse into private pockets, particularly in the landowner, construction and construction materials sector. Policy was skewed to minimise public housing and push everyone into overpriced mortgage-funded houses. Housing and health policy is still being run to make tax-free presents of wealth to wealthy and powerful individuals. The same with drug prices and purchase by the HSE.

We have had tribunals that produced evidence of corruption in the sales of state assets, with no serious action taken after them.

This money doesn't come from nowhere - it is stolen from public taxes, or loaded onto prices.

Between this kind of corruption, and the thousands of trillions of international tax evasion going on along side it, it is not surprising that we are reverting to a medieval scale of social inequality.

Until Ireland introduces hard sentences for corruption, it will remain a failed state.

[Ephilant]

The Anti-Bribery convention to which both Ireland and Greece signed up deals specifically with FOREIGN bribery, no mention of NATIONAL bribery.

[Slim Buddha]

The Anti-Bribery convention to which both Ireland and Greece signed up deals specifically with FOREIGN bribery, no mention of NATIONAL bribery.

I know, but it is symptomatic of a tolerance for corruption in Ireland.

[C. Flower]

The Anti-Bribery convention to which both Ireland and Greece signed up deals specifically with FOREIGN bribery, no mention of NATIONAL bribery.

There's nothing those furriners can teach us....

[Ephilant]

Not just in Ireland.
In 2008, the British Serious Fraud Office brought bribery charges against Austrian Count Alfons Mensdorff-Pouilly, representative for BAE. He was charged with attempting the bribe officials in the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary for a total of 12 million pounds in return for contracts for jet-fighters. Lady Scotland, the then attorney general, delayed the case long enough for BAE to settle out of court. The settlement sum agreed was 287 million GPB, but no disclosures as to the exact deals BAE ended up getting were disclosed.
The SFO also wanted to investigate corruption in Saudi Arabia, which was halted by direct intervention of Tony Blair, on the basis that it

would upset the Saudi Royal Family, and would be against "British Interests"

Count Alfons Mensdorff-Pouilly spend 6 days in custody, and later initiated charges against the British State .

Human rights are not respected in custody in England in contrast to Austria where things happen in a correct way in this regard – if it’s possible to describe such actions with an attribute like that. I wasn’t given decent underwear despite having asked for it several times. And they didn’t give me a comb. I successfully asked for a vaccination against Hepatitis B after I discovered stubble in the used disposable razor I was given.

He was awarded 372,000 pounds in damages (yes three hundred and seventy two thousand GBP!), paid from "General provisions", meaning taxpayers money.

On a side note, Count Alfons Mensdorff-Pouilly, is married to Maria Rauch-Kallat, former minister for Health in Austria. He owns a "sporting estate at Dalnaglar Castle, Perthshire" and a home in London's Sloane Square. He also owns a "spacious hunting lodge" in Austria.
He is now again under investigation following new revelations about the Hungarian deal. More expensive underpants?

[Ephilant]

A major investigation into corruption and "illegal enrichment" is on the way in Greece. Zougla.gr, an independent new portal, somehow got hold of the list of some 30-odd public figures being investigated, and published it. This is it:

Nikoloas Andrianopoulos Former finance minister general secretary.

Ioannis Anthopoulos (Pasok) Former deputy education minister. The investigation began in April 2012 and concerns his involvement as legal counsel to a number of companies which the SDOE were auditing. A request has been made to open his bank accounts.

Dimitris Apostolakis (Pasok) Former defence minister under Kostas Simitis.

Fotis Arvanitis (Pasok) Former MP for Fokida.

Antonis Bezas (ND) Former MP for Thesprotia (2000–2009). SDOE audit following complaints.

Marina Chrysoveloni (Independent Greeks) MP for Magnesia. The SDOE in Thessaly is carrying out an audit.

Panayiotis Fasoulas (Pasok) Former MP and mayor of Piraeus. Audit started after SDOE received complaints.

Filippos Fountis (Ecogreens) Parliamentary candidate in the 2012 elections. The SDOE in Thessaly began an audit on 23 April 2012 and is currently writing the report.

Apostolos Fotiadis (Pasok) Former deputy finance minister. Investigation follows a complaint of illegal enrichment. An audit of his income and expenditure has been made for the years 2000-2012 and on the properties he has declared in his tax return. A request has been made for bank account data.

Michalis Halkidis (ND) Former MP for Imathia and former mayor of Meliki. Audit on the basis of an allegation of illegal enrichment.

Nikitas Kaklamanis (ND) Former mayor of Athens and current MP. The period being audited concerns his time as mayor and is as a result of a complaint received by the SDOE in June 2012 concerning Athens municipal radio (98.4 FM), declaration of income statements and illegal deposits abroad. The audit has not begun.

Panos Kammenos (former ND, now Independent Greeks leader) Under examination for the period he was New Democracy MP. The SDOE will open his bank accounts after it has received the relevant order from prosecutors.

Michalis Karchimakis (Pasok) Former Pasok national council secretary. The SDOE is acting on an anonymous complaint alleging illegal enrichment on his part and that he owns three hotels in Ierapetra, which may not be in his name.

Nikos Konstantopoulos (Synaspismos) Former leader of Synaspismos (Left Coalition), which is now the core element in Syriza (Radical Left Coalition).

Michalis Liapis (New Democracy) Former transport and culture minister. Being audited on foot of a complaint about illegal enrichment.

Konstantinos Liaskas Former public works minister (1989-90) in Xenophon Zolotas' coalition government.

Tasos Mandelis (Pasok) Former transport and communications minister. The SDOE is carrying out a tax audit and bank account inspection in relation to the Siemens bribery scandal.

Petros Mantouvalos (ND) Lawyer and former MP for Piraeus (2000–2007). Being audited on the basis of an allegation of illegal enrichment.

Evangelos Meimarakis (ND) Current parliamentary speaker. SDOE audit on the strength of complaints received.

Thanasis Nakos (ND) Deputy parliamentary speaker. The SDOE investigation began on 15 March 2012 and is at the data-collection stage.

Yiorgos Orfanos (ND) Former MP for Thessaloniki. Audit relates to his time as deputy sports minister (2004-2007).

Fevronia Patrianakou (ND) MP for Lakonia. Subject of an audit on the basis of a complaint received by the Inspectorate for the Control of Public Administration(SEEDD).The banks have been requested to provide her bank account data.

Yiannos Papantoniou (Pasok) Former finance and defence minister. His wife is also being audited. The investigation, which began on the orders of a prosecutor, is awaiting account data from the banks.
Yiorgos Patoulis Mayor of Marousi. Under audit on the basis of allegations of illegal enrichment.

Ioannis Sbokos (Pasok) Former MP and general secretary at the defence ministry. Investigation on the basis of a prosecutor's order.

Aris Spiliotopoulos (ND) Former education ministry and current MP. Audit ordered after an anonymous complaint was received. The tax office is seeking his source of income declaration and the banks have been asked to hand over bank account data.

Spilios Spiliotopoulos (ND) Former defence minister (2004–2006), the period for which he is being audited.

Nikos Tagaris (ND) Former prefect of Corinthia and current MP for the same area. Audit launched on 14 October 2011 and the SDOE is currently collecting data from banks.

Elpida Tsouri (Pasok) Former MP and deputy minister of maritime affairs, Aegean and fisheries. Under investigation for her period as MP.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos (Pasok) Former defence minister. Currently on remand awaiting trial.

Leonidas Tzanis (Pasok) Former deputy interior minister. Controlled by SDOE Thessaloniki. Investigation launched on 31 May 2012 and the SDOE is currently collecting data from banks and analysing his source of income declaration.

Christos Verelis (Pasok) Former transport and communications minister. Audit underway after complaint was received.

Eliza Vozemberg (ND) Former MP for Athens A constituency.

Yiorgos Voulgarakis (ND) Former public order, culture and merchant marine minister. Investigation at the request (18 July 2012) of the financial prosecutor. The accounts of him and his wife are to be opened. Case at an early stage.

Alexandros Voulgaris (Pasok) Former MP for Magnesia. Under audit by the SDOE in Thessaly, which is currently collecting data.

Christos Zachopoulos Former general secretary of culture ministry under New Democracy.

Karamanlis Foundation Audit underway at New Democracy's research institute for mismanagement.

According to other reports, the SDOE is investigating four other politicial figures:

George Zanias Former caretaker finance minister.

Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou (Pasok) Former deputy foreign minister.

Yannis Maniatis (Pasok) Former deputy environment minister.

Spyros Travlos Former secretary general for armaments (2002) under Kostas Simitis.

this list reads as a virtual who is who in the top of both PASOK and ND when they were at the height of their individual and combined power, busy running the country into the ground.

To add fuel to the fire, former finance minister George Papaconstantinou (PASOK) has now admitted that a cd containing not just the names of Greeks with bank accounts in Switzerland, but full account details, including amounts in the accounts did indeed come into his possession in 2010, and an investigation was ordered, but somehow ended without any reports being produced
He has meanwhile "lost " the CD but insists copies are in possession of the Financial Crimes Unit (which he set up).

He stated that the cd also contained names of German, French and Italian account holders. It contained 1991 Greek names, with assets worth over 1.5 billion Euro. This is the cd that our current minister for finance denies all existence of, and added that if it should indeed exist, the source of the cd would be in serious trouble for committing serious offenses with heavy penalties and jail time.
Papaconstantinou named the source of the CD. None other than our friend Christine Lagarde.....

[Ephilant]

What's new?

http://companies.defenceindex.org/

10 Trillion annual turnover between them and little info on their brown envelope policies

[C. Flower]

What's new?

http://companies.defenceindex.org/

10 Trillion annual turnover between them and little info on their brown envelope policies

One of Soros's sites ?

The international arms industry has an appalling record of corruption. The British seem to be pretty high ranking in terms of scandal.

Even Ireland, with its tiny armed forces, has going on for a billion a year of a budget.

The Greek arms budget is enormous and must surely be rankly corrupt ?

[Ephilant]

The Greek arms budget is enormous and must surely be rankly corrupt ?

How could you ever suggest this
Former minister of Defense in jail, so far something like 2 billion € worth of bribes confirmed.
Look at the amount fo people connected to "Defense" in the list of 36 above.
Current Parliament Speaker and form minister of Defense allegedly involved in a 10 billion € + money laundering scandal.
What do you mean, rankly corrupt ?

[Ephilant]

From the list above:

Leonidas Tzanis (Pasok) Former deputy interior minister. Controlled by SDOE Thessaloniki. Investigation launched on 31 May 2012 and the SDOE is currently collecting data from banks and analysing his source of income declaration.

It has emerged today that this former PASOK deputy minister committed suicide last week Thursday. Other than the mention that he hung himself and was found by his wife, no further information has been released about this very sad turn of events.
We do know that his banks accounts had just been "opened", meaning the bank privacy was lifted to allow the Fiscal Fraud Squad to investigate him further.

He leave a wife and 2 children behind. RIP.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Someone is leaking this info on senior Greek politicians to the media I'd swear. Who would benefit by leaking this info to the Greek media?