DHAKA: The leader of Greece’s far-right Golden Dawn party was jailed pending trial on charges of belonging to a criminal group.

A court official told media early on Thursday, reports The Jerusalem Post.

Golden Dawn leader Nikolaos Mihaloliakos appeared before investigating magistrates and a prosecutor to respond to charges of founding and participating in a criminal organisation.

Mihaloliakos has denied the charges against him.

The decision to jail the party chief was a boost for Greece prime minister Antonis Samaras’ efforts to clamp down on Golden Dawn after a party sympathiser fatally stabbed an anti-fascism rapper last month.

Mihaloliakos was arrested on Saturday alongside other party members as part of the government’s efforts of rein in a party it says is a neo-Nazi criminal gang.

BDST: 1351 HRS, OCT 03, 2013
RoR/BSK