Greek MPs Audited for Sending Money Abroad

Three Greek MPs, Vassilis Kikilias, from New Democracy, Vassilis Kapernaros from Independent Greeks and Maria Repousi from Democratic Left (DIMAR) are being audited for overseas remittances. Their names were released by the Greek Ministry of Finance. Kapernaros’ wife and the wife of former Greek Minister of Mercantile Marine Nikos Sifounaki, are also being audited for sending money abroad during the 2009-2012 period. These five names emerged after the first inspection of the  list of 24,710 similar cases that are also under investigation. It was reported earlier by the newspaper To Vima that the three lawmakers in question were all from the ruling New Democracy Conservatives of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and were for more than a million euros each but ministry officials said the names were released in order to dispel that. According to a Ministry of Finance announcement, there is no evidence that any other MPs were part of the list. Meanwhile, the Greek General Secretariat of Public Revenue is investigating whether the amounts that were sent abroad are covered by the MPs tax returns, while there is no evidence of where the money originated. According to the Ministry’s announcement, Kikilias handed in all the necessary documents last April. The audits will be completed as soon as possible, officials said and cautioned that there’s no indication of wrongdoing yet, or if there was any attempt at tax evasion. Of 44 cases that were recently investigated, 12 (27%) were found to have violations.  

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