ATHENS: A wealthy Greek former transport minister was given a suspended four-year prison sentence yesterday after being caught driving an unlicensed luxury jeep, court officials said.
Prominent conservative Michalis Liapis, 63, was also sentenced to a fine of ¤3,000 ($4,100) for flouting traffic laws he once vowed to uphold as the government’s transport minister.
The case has embarrassed the conservative-led coalition government which is struggling in the polls ahead of local elections in May.
Liapis, a nephew of ruling New Democracy party founder Constantine Karamanlis, was ousted from the movement earlier this month after he was caught driving his uninsured car, which also bore fake license plates.
Liapis told police that like many Greeks he had been hit by the economic crisis and his car was not insured because he could not afford to pay tax on it.
But he then caused further outrage by failing to appear in court and flying to Asia for a luxury vacation a few days after his arrest.
AFP
