Aristeidis Floros

Athens lawyer Giorgos Antonopoulos, who was remanded in custody in April in connection with a so-called "mafia" said to be operating in the capital's high-security Korydallos Prison, appealed for his release Wednesday, citing an attempt on his life.

The release of disgraced energy executive Aristeidis Floros under the provisions of a new criminal code introduced by the previous administration, provoked a fierce clash on Tuesday between the government and leftist SYRIZA.

Disgraced energy executive Aristeidis Floros was granted conditional release from prison on Tuesday by an Athens court that is hearing his second appeal against a conviction for embezzlement and money laundering.

The prominent Athens lawyers Alexandros Lykourezos and Theodoros Panagopoulos, who are accused of links to the Korydallos Prison "mafia," are to face an investigating magistrate on Monday.

Three Albanian convicts had intended to extort 5 million euros out of a jailed power firm executive by threatening criminal lawyer Michalis Zafeiropoulos but their plan went wrong, ending in the latter's death, Greek Police officials revealed Wednesday.