The case involving serving Supreme Court deputy prosecutor Vassilis Floridis is being referred to Council of State President Michalis Pikramenos, according to reports, over Floridis’s public statements alleging corruption in connection with a specific case he had handled.
The referral, according to To Vima, is being made by Deputy Justice Minister Ioannis Bougas because Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis, who is responsible for initiating disciplinary proceedings against senior prosecutors and judges, is the brother of the well-known prosecutor.
Once the case has been referred to the president of the Council of State, the head of the top court is expected to appoint a vice-president of the court to conduct an inquiry under the law. The inquiry will conclude with a report assessing all the relevant information.
How the disciplinary process unfolded
Disciplinary proceedings against prosecutor Vassilis Floridis, one of the best-known prosecutors, were set in motion after an article he wrote was published under the title “A Vein of Corruption”. In it, he made clear suggestions that judges and prosecutors had engaged in corruption in handling a particular case involving, among other things, a relative of a serving minister.
According to prosecutor Floridis, who handled the case at the Supreme Court, evidence had been fabricated and certain individuals, including senior police officers, had been referred for trial without sufficient grounds.
After the article was published, judicial associations, bar associations, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Prosecutor’s Office issued statements strongly criticising his decision to comment publicly on a pending case in which he had participated as a prosecutor.
Vassilis Floridis defends his position
In statements to “TA NEA”, Vassilis Floridis defended his position, saying his motive was to bring instances of corruption to public attention without referring to individuals or specific prosecutors or judges.
He has, however, already formally requested a disciplinary review of the prosecutors and judges involved in handling the case, which was also the subject of his article on Kathimerini’s website.