A total of eight are going to stand trial for a “scandalous” helicopter rental contract by the Fire Brigade in 2009, which saw the Greek state overpay by about 6 million euros.
Initially 33 people were prosecuted by the authorities in 2011 over the case, including a political officer at the Ministry of Public Order, three former Fire Brigade chiefs and members of the Civil Aviation Authority; ultimately though only eight of them will stand trial – five (current and former) Fire Brigade officers and three from a private company.
The case was launched after complaints were filed by the former Deputy Minister of Public Order Spyros Vougias. Mr. Vougias argued that the helicopter rental in 2009 was about 35% more expensive than in 2010. Specifically the fee for each helicopter was 4,450,000 euros in 2009 and 3,200,000 euros in 2010.
