A Supreme Court judge has reported an attempted bribery after receiving a letter urging him to intervene in a pending legal case in exchange for implied financial compensation.
The letter, which made explicit reference to a specific case and insinuated a monetary reward, was hand-delivered to the judge by an individual already known to law enforcement, according to To Vima.
Upon reading the contents, the judge immediately filed a formal complaint and submitted the letter to authorities. Prosecutorial proceedings are now underway.
The Supreme Civil and Criminal Court of Greece (in Greek Areios Pagos) serves as the highest judicial authority in civil and criminal matters in the country. It does not re-examine case facts but instead reviews the legal soundness of decisions made by lower courts, as it functions without a third level of jurisdiction.
The court is composed of the president, the attorney-general, ten vice-presidents, sixty-five justices (known as areopagites), and seventeen deputy attorneys-general. The judge who reported the attempted bribery is one of the sitting areopagites.
Anonymous sources told legal reporting website Dikastiko that they believe the incident may indicate a broader attempt at extrajudicial influence, particularly as the judge involved is widely regarded for his integrity and is considered a strong contender in the upcoming Supreme Court elections.
