Eight accused of fixing trials in Greece

THESSALONIKI, Greece, May 11 (UPI) -- Seven appeals court judges and a deputy prosecutor are accused of accepting bribes to fix the outcome of various trials in Thessaloniki, Greece.

The five men and three women are accused of fixing the trials of a suspected drug dealer, a businessman accused of forging documents and a reputed fuel smuggler, the Greek newspaper Katherimini reported Friday.

The eight face charges of dereliction of duty, giving false statements and abuse of power.

Two of the suspects have already retired from their jobs while a third suspect is in the process of stepping down.

Thessaloniki is Greece's second largest city and the capital of the Greek region of Macedonia.