Brussels, 28/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - The magistrates' court in Paris has sentenced the former head of the tourism unit at the European Commission from 1989 to 1995, Georges Tzoanos, to four years in prison and to paying the European Commission, together with the other persons found guilty in this case regarding misappropriation of European subsidies, the sum of FF 6.65 million in damages plus FF 100,000 for moral wrong. The magistrates' court also imposed prison sentences on Pascal Châtillon, French official posted with the Commission's Tourism Unit at the time of the offences, and against three people who are said to have benefited from the deflected subsidies. Those charged are also to pay fines, ranging from FF 1000 for Pascal Châtillon to one million francs for Georges Tzoanos. The court also confirmed the arrest warrant issued against George Tzoanos. Those charged will have until 2 October to appeal.
George Tzoanos had been dismissed in June 1995 by the European Commission, which accused him of having embezzled subsidies and received bribes. The Commission had referred the matter to the justice system of several countries. Proceedings are also underway in Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg and Spain, for other subsidy misappropriation imputed to the same persons, said a Commission spokesperson.