Former Cypriot Minister Dinos Michaelides, his son Michalis and Syrian arms dealer Fouad al-Zayad, involved in the German arms bribery scandal, went on trial in Greece, accused for bribery and money laundering. According to “Cyprus Mail”, the Former Minister’s defense team tried to postpone the trial for one month while a new bench was appointed to try the case. The Greek court rejected the motion and called the first, and most important, witness for the prosecution, Nikos Zigras, Akis Tsohatzopoulos‘ cousin. However, Zigras had not been in the courtroom on time, while two other witnesses for the prosecution were called, who were also not present. The trial was once again adjourned until Tuesday. The defense’s main argument was that the trial has been derailed by virtue of decisions taken by the judge, and that in order for the tension to be relieved, the court should postpone the trial for one month and resume with a new bench, even if the judge is not replaced. According to the prosecution, however, the trial had been adjourned since July 27, which has allowed a “relief period” of 1.5 months.
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