Akis Tsochatzopoulos

Despite initial expectations that former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos would be released from prison Friday on the grounds of his ailing health, it appeared that he will stay in Korydallos Prison for a few more days for bureaucratic reasons.

Former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who was convicted to 20 years in prison for money laundering in 2013, is expected to be released from Korydallos Prison in Athens on Friday after his lawyers said he managed to raise the 200,000 euros demanded for his early release.

Former Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos will be released from prison after posting the necessary bail of 200,000 euros. Mr. Tsochatzopoulos, who was serving a 20-year sentence after being found guilty of receiving bribes via military procurement contracts, reportedly collected the bail money via friend donations.

An Athens court has rejected an appeal by former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos for the reduction of a bail payment of 200,000 euros, a term of his early release.

The 77-year-old, who was handed a 20-year sentence for money laundering in 2013, was released from Korydallos Prison earlier this month due to frail health but had to return after failing to meet bail.

Former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who was earlier this month released from an Athens prison because of his frail health, will have to return to jail after failing to secure 200,000 euros in bail.

The 77-year-old was given a 20-year prison term for money laundering in 2013.

A judicial council on Wednesday ordered the release from prison of former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos because of his frail health in response to the latest in a series of appeals lodged by the veteran Socialist politician.

Greek judges have ordered the release of former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos from prison for medical reasons.

The 77-year-old, who was given a 20-year sentence for money laundering in 2013, had a triple bypass surgery last month.

Former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who is serving a 20-year sentence for money laundering at Attica's high-security Korydallos Prison, on Wednesday lodged a fifth appeal for early release, citing health problems.

Former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who is serving a 20-year sentence for money laundering at Attica's high-security Korydallos Prison was transferred to the Ippokrateio hospital in Athens on Friday to undergo by-pass surgery next week.

Viki Stamati, the wife of former defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, on Wednesday told an Athens appeals court that she is innocent of money laundering charges that landed her a 12-year prison sentence in 2013, insisting that she was convicted for "political" reasons.

Stamati, 54, has repeatedly appealed for her sentence to be commuted to house arrest, to no avail.