Greek Deputy FinMin dismisses reports over transferring family's cash abroad

Greek Deputy Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas strongly dismissed on Wednesday as "slander" media reports that he transferred his family's cash abroad recently amidst scenarios of a possible Greek default.

German tabloid Bild published this week an article alleging that Mardas transferred 80,000 euros to a bank in Luxembourg in March. It was based on a previous report by Greek newspaper "Thessaloniki" which implied that Mardas made such a transfer, but never named him.

The transaction, if made, could be legal, but such a move would pose questions on the minister's trust in the prospects of Greek economy, Greek media commented.

Mardas and other cabinet officials who spoke anonymously to Greek media rejected the claims as "a libelous attack against the minister and the government".

In a press release issued by the Finance Ministry on Wednesday it was announced that legal action against Bild would be taken.

"This newspaper is known for its hostile stance towards the government and the country," it was stressed in the press statement.

A lawsuit would also be filed against "Thessaloniki" unless the newspaper presents clear evidence on the allegations or prints a story clarifying that the report had nothing to do with the minister.

Mardas told media that in late 2014, before his appointment to the post, he transferred a far smaller amount of money to his daughter who was a student in Brussels for her tuition fees.

In March Gikas Hardouvelis who served as Finance Minister under the previous conservative-led government, admitted that he had deposited an amount of his money overseas in the spring of 2012, concerned by instability in the debt laden country.

At the time Hardouvelis was serving as chief economic consultant at the then Greek prime minister's office. Endit