Dead in the Water: Murder and Fraud in the World's Most Secretive Industry

by Matthew Campbell

Just two months after Judge Teare ruled that Iliopoulos had orchestrated one of history’s most audacious maritime frauds, a Seajets ferry won “Ship of the Year” at the Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards. Iliopoulos accepted the prize with a speech at a glitzy ceremony in Athens. Some of the most respected names in the industry were in attendance, alongside a clutch of Greek politicians that included the country’s deputy minister for sport and culture. Wearing a black suit and crisp white shirt, Iliopoulos praised the vessel’s record-breaking speed and environmentally friendly turbine engines. “At Seajets, our goals are fully aligned with the goals of all Greeks who want to see Greece, this country with its huge history and culture, smile again and fill the hearts of all Greeks with pride and joy,” he beamed. “We believe that society cannot exist without respecting, living, breathing together.” Iliopoulos had also won plaudits for his response to the wildfires that tore through the Greek mainland in 2018, killing more than a hundred people and displacing thousands. He’d hired cranes to clear the roads, donated food supplies, and organized special events to provide “psychological support to children affected by the tragedy,” according to a press release issued on his behalf.