adminFinance ministry official Haris Theocharis confirmed to AFP statements made to Greek daily Ta Nea, which is part of the global media investigation.
The probe was undertaken by the Washington- based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
Titled “Secrecy for Sale: Inside the Global Offshore Money Maze”, it tracks the alleged involvement of officials, their families and associates in Framce, Azerbaijan, Russia, Canada, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Canada, Mongolia and other countries.
In Greece, only four of 107 offshore accounts held by Greeks in the British Virgin Islands and other havens are on government tax books.
Some are linked to state arms purchases while two were used to buy and refit the yacht “Christina O” once owned by legendary Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis, Ta Nea said.
“We will carefully examine the evidence published by the ICIJ and will try to make use of it in the best possible way,” the finance ministry’s Theocharis told the daily.
“If proof emerges on illegal or irregular activities we will proceed in the necessary fashion,” he said.
The Greek account holders are apparently business executives and shipowners but also middle-class villagers from the country’s poorer north, Ta Nea said. – AFP.
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