Alpha TV boss charged with tax evasion and money laundering

Well known Greek business identity and head of Alpha TV Dimitris Kontominas was charged yesterday with criminal counts of tax evasion and money laundering from illegal activity following an investigation carried out by financial prosecutors.

The charges concern approximately 48 million euros that arose as a discrepancy between Kontominas' declared income and the bank deposits in his name during the period 2006-2008.

The case against Kontominas was the result of a roughly year-long investigation by financial prosecutors working with unified lists of tax-evaders, who had summoned him to explain the discrepancies in his financial affairs for the period in question.

Kontominas denied committing any illegal act and had resorted to the General Secretariat for Public Revenues office for settling disputes to challenge the accusations issued against him by tax authorities. After a second review of the figures, however, his case against them was dismissed.

A year ago assets to the tune of 100 million euros belonging to Kontominas were frozen.