April 12, 2012|Associated Press

http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-12/news/31332091_1_defense-minister-money-laundering-charge-party-leader

A former Socialist defense minister was arrested in Athens Wednesday on criminal charges of money laundering in connection with alleged corruption over a submarine contract.

Akis Tsochadzopoulos, 72, was remanded in police custody until Monday, when he will appear before a magistrate. A conviction on those chargee carry a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

Tsochadzopoulos, who was Greece’s defense minister from 1996 to 2001, denies any wrongdoing.

He was one of the top officials in Greece’s majority Pasok party for about 25 years, and narrowly lost a vote to become party leader — and prime minister — in the mid-1990s.