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Greece ministers blamed over Swiss bank account list | Greece ministers blamed over Swiss bank account list |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Journalist Costas Vaxevanis has told the BBC that politicians should be prosecuted for keeping secret the names of Greeks with Swiss bank accounts. | Journalist Costas Vaxevanis has told the BBC that politicians should be prosecuted for keeping secret the names of Greeks with Swiss bank accounts. |
The magazine editor goes on trial on Thursday charged with breach of privacy for publishing 2,000 names of people with accounts at HSBC. | |
French authorities gave the names to their Greek counterparts two years ago. | |
Greek officials have said there is no proof that those on the list have broken the law. | Greek officials have said there is no proof that those on the list have broken the law. |
Some of those named, said to include many prominent Greeks, are suspected of using the accounts for tax evasion. | Some of those named, said to include many prominent Greeks, are suspected of using the accounts for tax evasion. |
Mr Vaxevanis, 46, said he published the list in his magazine Hot Doc "because I'm a journalist and it's our job to tell the truth to the people". | |
"The three last governments have lied and have made a mockery of the Greek people with this list," he said. | "The three last governments have lied and have made a mockery of the Greek people with this list," he said. |
"They were obliged to pass it to parliament or to the justice system. They didn't do it and they should be in prison for it." | "They were obliged to pass it to parliament or to the justice system. They didn't do it and they should be in prison for it." |
Mr Vaxevanis said he thought the government had not acted on the list because it included friends of ministers, businessmen and powerful publishers. | |
He also accused much of the Greek media of ignoring the story. | He also accused much of the Greek media of ignoring the story. |
"The Greek press is muzzled," he said. "There is a closed system of power in Greece, wielded by the political elite, businessmen and journalists." | "The Greek press is muzzled," he said. "There is a closed system of power in Greece, wielded by the political elite, businessmen and journalists." |
"If I need to go to prison I will do," he said. "Not because I'm a hero, but to show the injustice of what is happening in Greece." | "If I need to go to prison I will do," he said. "Not because I'm a hero, but to show the injustice of what is happening in Greece." |