Lawyers for basketball referees in corruption scandal: "Detention is unjust" – complaints filed against witnesses
Attorneys Koromela, Tsaroucha and Piloidis dispute the evidence and signal forthcoming appeals and complaints against prosecution witnesses.
Fierce counter-attack by lawyers in Greek basketball corruption case
According to In.gr, lawyers for the three referees implicated in the Greek basketball corruption scandal have launched a direct challenge to the evidence, procedural handling and detention measures imposed on their clients.
Following decisions by the examining magistrate and prosecutor to remand Ilias Koromela in custody and place Vasso Tsaroucha and Tasos Piloidis under house arrest, their attorneys—Apostolos Lytras, Angelos Peponis and Nikos Galanis—characterised the case files as "hasty" and based exclusively on two witness statements, without substantial findings. At the same time, they announced a series of appeals and complaints against prosecution witnesses.
"The law is clear" – Koromela's lawyer
Apostolos Lytras, attorney for Ilias Koromela, characterised his client's detention as "unjust" and unusual for the circumstances described in the case file.
"I have never encountered this happening on the basis of just two witness statements. Only two statements and we already have four remands in custody," he stated characteristically.
Lytras emphasised that Koromela, an international referee with experience in Spain and the NBA, accounted for the origin of the €102,000 found in his possession, citing income from the Euroleague and the Basketball Federation for services rendered as a referee. "The examining magistrate was not convinced about the origin of this money," he acknowledged, adding however that the detention constitutes "an extreme measure" and that his client "has no reason to flee abroad".
He stressed that the legal conditions for remand in custody are not met—suspicion of flight, risk of committing further offences or lack of known residence—and concluded: "I think it smacks more of gamesmanship". He announced a 100 per cent appeal against the detention warrant and legal action against the two prosecution witnesses.
"Not a single euro in her home" – Tsaroucha's lawyer
Angelos Peponis, attorney for Vasso Tsaroucha, expressed partial satisfaction at the avoidance of remand in custody, but characterised the house arrest with electronic monitoring as "harsh treatment", particularly for a referee who, in his view, is not burdened by any evidence.
"Ms Tsaroucha is the most accomplished Greek female referee and among the most recognised in Europe," Peponis stated. He emphasised that no sum of money was found in her home, contrary to police announcements: "She has not received even half a euro".
The attorney also alleged that from the collectible shirts found in her home, only those from a specific team were selectively seized. According to Peponis, in 125 pages of written messages Tsaroucha is mentioned peripherally in only one, whilst she is alleged to be accused in relation to four matches "which, with a simple search, one can establish she did not even referee". Moreover, whilst Tsaroucha was giving her statement, a protected witness appeared live on a television channel accusing her. Peponis announced legal action "against all those who implicated her".
"Hasty and rushed work" – Piloidis's lawyer
Nikos Galanis, attorney for Tasos Piloidis, characterised the case file as "highly incomplete" and the work of the sports prosecutor's office as "very hasty and rushed", noting that no new evidence was presented.
"I believe this decision is incorrect, as it imposes a particularly onerous measure on a person who has done absolutely nothing," Galanis stated regarding the house arrest and prohibition from engaging in basketball imposed on his client.
He announced that on the morning of the same day a complaint for false testimony was filed against the sole witness mentioned in relation to Piloidis. "It is unacceptable to give a public platform to a person who has admitted to committing offences and is operating under a regime of provisional immunity," he alleged. He also announced an appeal to the judicial council against the prosecutor's order granting immunity to the witness, with the aim of ensuring that he too stands in the dock as the accused.
Three attorneys, one common line
All three lawyers converge on the same assessment: a case file built on just two witness statements, extra-judicial motives and irreparable damage to the professional reputation of their clients. The next step—appeals, complaints and requests to lift immunity—is expected to determine whether the case file will hold up before a judicial council.
Source: In.gr