Greece: Former minister on trial for corruption

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- A former Greek defense minister has appeared in court to stand trial on charges of submitting false income declarations, a corruption case being watched closely in the crisis-hit country.

Akis Tsochadzopoulos was escorted to court Monday from an Athens prison under heavy police guard to be tried for allegations he made the false declarations from 2006 to 2009.

The 73-year-old has been in custody since his arrest last year and is also due to stand trial on more serious corruption and money-laundering charges.

Public officials have come under closer scrutiny from judicial authorities since the country was hit by financial crisis. Last week a former mayor of Greece's second-largest city, Thessaloniki, was jailed for life over a €17 million ($22 million) embezzlement scandal.