Xeni Dimitriou

Justice Minister Mihalis Kalogirou on Tuesday ordered a disciplinary investigation into a deputy prosecutor of the Supreme Court, who claimed there had been interventions in the Novartis inquiry.

A deputy Supreme Court prosecutor on Tuesday was assigned to investigate the handling by judicial authorities of allegations, which have so far proved groundless, that 10 prominent politicians had received bribes from Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis in the 2009-2013 period.

Two prominent judicial officials were selected on Friday to replace the outgoing president and prosecutor of the Supreme Court despite intense criticism by legal experts and the political opposition over the legitimacy of the process before a snap election takes place on July 7.

Two prominent judicial officials were selected to top positions in the Supreme Court on Friday, following a meeting of the cabinet on Friday and despite intense criticism by the political opposition over the legitimacy of the process.

The government's bid for consensus with opposition conservatives over its intention to replace the Supreme Court's president and prosecutor before a snap election on July 7 fell by the wayside on Thursday after its proposal was turned down by New Democracy. 

By George Gilson

A top advisor to main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has warned that if the government during its last week in office appoints the new Supreme Court Chief Justice and Prosecutor after their term ends on 30 June and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos signs the necessary Presidential Decree, that could trigger a constitutional crisis.

The government is reportedly faced with a dilemma over whether to proceed with the replacement of the president and top prosecutor of the Supreme Court before or after the snap elections on June 30 that were announced by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras late Sunday.

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld an appeal filed by its top prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou against the rejection of a furlough request for convicted November 17 terrorist Dimitris Koufodinas, paving the way for the likely approval of the request. 

A few hours later, Koufodinas ended a hunger strike he started on May 2 to protest the refusal of his request. 

By George Gilson

The Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) has overturned a ruling of a judicial council in Volos denying the now defunct N17 terrorist organisation's top gun, Dimitris Koufodinas, his seventh consecutive furlough.

Now the Volos Judicial Council will meet again with a new composition to re-examine the request, and it is considered highly likely that it will be granted.

Supreme Court prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou late on Friday appealed a decision by a judicial council not to grant a fresh furlough to convicted November 17 hitman Dimitris Koufodinas. 
The prosecutor's appeal is expected to be discussed by a judicial council of the Supreme Court and, if accepted, will pave the way for the review of the case.