Marios Matsakis

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Marios Matsakis (born August 2, 1954 in Limassol) is a Cypriot politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Democratic Party, and sits with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group. He was also physician in forensics and medical practitioner and lecturer at British medical schools.

[edit] Police claims Matsiakis is involved in the smuggling of antiquities

On 30 October 2005, Cyprus Mail, a leading newspaper, reported that Matsiakis' home in Pyrga had been raided twice during the week by police and CID officials. Matsakis will be accused of smuggling antiquities. The newspaper described the raid with the words (quote) Enough chests, amphoras and other artifacts for three antique stores were yesterday hauled away from the Pyrga home of MEP Marios Matsakis by police, in the second such raid in a week. (unquote). The first raid took place on 23 October 2005. Matsiakis can be prosecuted under Cypriot law, as the European Parliament lifted his immunity earlier in the month.

Matsakis will also be charged with attempts to blackmail a Drug Squard officer in an unrelated case. Police officials found more than 110 chests and hundreds of Grecian urns on his property. (Source: Cyprus Mail, internet edition, 30 October 2005 [1].)

At all times Matsakis was claiming to be innocent. He also said that "It looks like some people do not want my voice to be heard in Cyprus or Europe".(Source: Cyprus Mail, internet edition [http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=24174&cat_id=1)

He has also fostered a reputation for abusing the European Parliament email system, 'spamming' his emails to all MEPs and Assistants. A grassroots movement on facebook has formed a coalition to investigate this problem.