A Greek proseuctor on Friday referred allegations of establishing a criminal enterprise as well as drug smuggling against well-known Greek shipowner Vangelis Marinakis, the owner of Greek football giants Olympiacos Piraeus FC and the co-owner of iconic Nottingham Forest FC, to an investigating judge.
Marinakis has strenuously and repeatedly denied all of the allegations against him.
The relevant development comes years after police authorities and prosecutors began an investigation into the case of the Noor 1 freighter, which was intercepted off the greater Athens area loaded with two tons of heroin, a massive haul of narcotics.
Under Greek law, as Marinakis’ attorneys pointed out, the judge reports back to the public prosecutor, who makes recommendations to a judicial council, which decides on whether to refer the case for trial or acquit.
Allegations against the former CEO of the shipping company Capital, Piraeus attorney Vangelis Bairaktaris and shipping agent Ilias Tsakiris were also referred to the investigating judge.
The referral was submitted by the head of the Piraeus first instance courts, Irini Tziva, with further instructions for an investigation into allegations of fuel smuggling and money laundering of criminal proceeds.
Moreover, a supreme court prosecutor, Xeni Dimitriou, filed a request that the case to be assigned to a special magistrate for corruption.
