ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek prosecutors have brought criminal mismanagement charges against a former official responsible for the post-Olympic use of costly venues that languished for years after the 2004 Athens Games.
Constantinos Matalas, who headed the now-defunct state-run Olympic Properties SA in 2008, faces a jail term of 5 to 10 years, if convicted.
Prosecutors Sotiris Boygioukos and Eleni Siskou also asked Parliament to lift the immunity of Matalas’ successor, Dionysis Stamenitis, who is now a lawmaker with the governing conservative New Democracy party, to allow his prosecution on the same charges.
Greece hosted the 2004 Games after a mad, last-minute rush to complete the venues in time. But for years thereafter most of the purpose-built installations languished unused and poorly maintained.
The charges were brought Monday.
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