ATHENS, Greece, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A Greek magistrate ordered a woman accused of causing an official's attempted suicide with a blackmail campaign to be kept in custody pending trial.
Evi Tsekou, who denied blackmailing Culture Ministry General Secretary Christos Zachopoulos, a close ally of Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, before his attempted suicide last week, was ordered by the magistrate to remain in Korydallos Prison until a trial can be held, Kathimerini reported Thursday.
Tsekou is accused of having an affair with Zachopoulos and threatening to release video tapes depicting private moments between the two unless he paid her nearly $300,000.
She claims to have approached media outlets to discuss plans to hire 148 employees at the Culture Ministry -- which she said violated regulations -- and not to discuss airing the videos of her with the official.
Zachopoulos, who plunged from a fourth-story balcony at his Athens apartment last week, is listed in critical condition at a local hospital. Doctors said they are increasingly optimistic that he will survive, Kathimerini said.
