Greek journalist who published list of 2,000 'tax dodgers' is made to stand trial AGAIN

Attack on free speech in the birthplace of democracy?  Seems sad

There was fury across Greece today after it was announced that a journalist who published the names of more than 2,000 Greeks with Swiss bank accounts is to stand trial again.

Costas Vaxevanis has been told that his acquital earlier this month for breaking data privacy laws after publishing the so-called ‘Lagarde List’ was 'faulty.'

The Athens Public Prosecutor’s office said that Mr Vaxevanis must now be tried again by a higher court on the same charges.

If found guilty, Vaxevanis could be jailed for up to two years or face a fine. ‘The prosecutor believes that the decision in favour of the journalist is legally wrong,’ a court official said.

The speedy arrest, trial and acquittal of Mr Vaxevanis for publishing the so-called 'Lagarde List' had aroused international concern and captivated recession-weary Greeks angry at the privileges of the elite.

Given to Greece by French authorities in 2010, the list contains the names of 2,059 Greek account holders at HSBC in Switzerland to be probed for possible tax evasion.

In his defence, Mr Vaxevanis accused politicians of hiding the truth and protecting an 'untouchable' elite. He said the trial was politically motivated, calling it 'targetted and vengeful.'

Source