Μake us preferred on Google Vangelis Liolios, president of the Hellenic Basketball Federation, and five other defendants in a Greek basketball corruption investigation have been given additional time to prepare their statements to an investigating judge.
The six appeared before the ninth investigating magistrate in Athens on Thursday, October 22, accompanied by their lawyers. All requested and received extensions, with their appearances scheduled over the following four days.
Former referee Petros Papapetrou is due to testify at 1 p.m. on Friday, October 23. Liolios and businessman Giorgos Mavraganis, who is described as an associate of the federation president, are scheduled to appear at 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 25.
The remaining three defendants — referee Vaso Tsaroucha, chief referee and refereeing adviser Ilias Koromilas, and former referee and Central Refereeing Committee member Tasos Piloidis — are due to testify at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 26.
After each defendant has given a statement, the investigating judge and prosecutor will decide on the legal measures to be imposed in each case.
More than €800,000 reportedly found in searches
The investigation has also drawn attention to cash reportedly discovered during searches of the defendants’ homes.
According to reports cited by Greek media, police found €820,000 at Papapetrou’s home and €102,000 at the home of Koromilas. The total amount of cash found during searches involving all six defendants exceeds €800,000, according to Greek police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou, who spoke to Alpha television.
Dimoglidou said the case followed a months-long investigation by prosecutorial and judicial authorities. That process led to criminal charges against six people and the issuance of six arrest warrants, all of which were executed by police within a day.
Lawyer says evidence includes written messages
Lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, speaking to Skai television, said the investigating judge could extend the charges to additional people or include offenses not covered by the original prosecution.
Dimitrakopoulos said that in April 2026, he held a news conference with Ilias Papatheodorou, the coach of Maroussi and a former close associate of Liolios at Promitheas Patras. According to the lawyer, Papatheodorou provided material that included written messages.
Dimitrakopoulos argued that the case was supported by substantial evidence, including statements accompanied by messages exchanged among basketball officials and current and former referees.
He said the material pointed to manipulation of results, including in school basketball competitions.
The investigation remains ongoing, and decisions on the defendants’ legal status will follow their statements to the investigating judge.
