Two Greek prosecutors appointed to a judicial task force to tackle the nation's widespread tax evasion problem have resigned from their posts claiming that the government is interfering in high-profile investigations.
In a letter of resignation by Grigoris Peponis and Spiros Mouzakitis, obtained by Agence France-Presse, the two said they would “not accept being prosecutors under supervision”, and said they were being obstructed from pursing entities “operating in the the grey area of financial crime”.
Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has convened meetings with top judicial officials, and has said the government would investigate the claims.
The resignation of the two prosecutors came just days ahead of a two-day strike of tax office personnel on December 29-30, in response to government austerity plans to cut several thousand civil service jobs.
According to reports, Peponis and Mouzakitis had recently launched high-profile investigations into bank funding arrangements and allegations of number fiddling at the Hellenic Statistical Authority.
In a letter of resignation by Grigoris Peponis and Spiros Mouzakitis, obtained by Agence France-Presse, the two said they would “not accept being prosecutors under supervision”, and said they were being obstructed from pursing entities “operating in the the grey area of financial crime”.
Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has convened meetings with top judicial officials, and has said the government would investigate the claims.
The resignation of the two prosecutors came just days ahead of a two-day strike of tax office personnel on December 29-30, in response to government austerity plans to cut several thousand civil service jobs.
According to reports, Peponis and Mouzakitis had recently launched high-profile investigations into bank funding arrangements and allegations of number fiddling at the Hellenic Statistical Authority.
