ATHENS (AP) — An activist who urged Greeks not to pay their taxes, claiming he had access to enough money to pay off the country’s enormous debt, has been remanded in custody pending trial on criminal fraud charges.
Hundreds of supporters of Artemis Sorras gathered, waving Greek flags, outside an Athens court where he appeared Thursday.

Sorras faces charges of defrauding the state by urging nonpayment of taxes, running a criminal organization, money laundering, spreading false rumors and incitement. He was arrested over the weekend in Athens after more than a year in hiding.

Sorras founded the Convention of Greeks political group, claiming to have access to enough money in foreign bonds to cover Greece’s 320 billion-euro foreign debt. Many people believed him.

Authorities have labeled the Convention of Greeks a criminal organization