ATHENS – Former New Democracy lawmaker Andreas Patsis avoided going to jail for filing false wealth declarations and convinced a prosecutor to let him pay 10 euros a day instead for the crime.

His 3-year sentence was converted into a fine, common in Greece, especially in high-profile cases, although it wasn’t said whether he would be prosecuted for tax evasion, owning an offshore company and buying bad loans from banks to chase debtors.

The fine agreement will cost him 10,950 euros ($12,119) over the three years but it wasn’t disclosed how much wealth he really has and which wasn’t revealed in what authorities said were fraudulent reports, a deal reached with a prosecutor.

Patsis’ former and current wives were charged and got 15 and 20 month jail sentences, also suspended with the 10-euro-a-day deal. He was charged with submitting the false reports from 2019-22.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expelled him from the party in 2022 and Parliament later lifted Patsis’ immunity, after it was revealed that the then lawmaker owned three offshore companies in Cyprus, which is unlawful.

The head of the Financial Prosecutor’s Office had ordered an investigation into the business activities of Patsis, looking for evidence of tax evasion, money laundering and if any of his relatives were involved.

His banking, tax and stock market privacy was also lifted to investigate his activities and the resulting reports sent to the Court of Auditors to calculate any fines for undisclosed wealth but the amounts weren’t given.

Patsis, an MP for Grevena, is the owner of three offshore companies based in Cyprus and his name was included in 27 contacts signed with state-run Hellenic Post (ELTA) for legal fees totalling 821,877 euros ($909,369.)

It is also unlawful for Members of Parliament to sign contracts with any state entities or municipalities and Patsis said nobody told him that owning offshore companies was not allowed, claiming ignorance.

He also said that the ELTA contracts were signed with a foreign law firm he represents which received the bulk of the legal fees and that New Democracy was aware of his financial activities.

The CEO of Hellenic Post (ELTA), Giorgos Konstantopoulos, also announced his resignation for “moral reasons” related to Patsis’ activities. ELTA had engaged international firm DLA Piper, of which Patsis is the legal representative in Greece, for legal advice regarding European matters.