The Greek parliament has approved new legislation that critics say will give thousands of alleged tax offenders amnesty, the Financial Times has reported.

The law was approved in parliament on Thursday 5 November despite opposition from MPs, lawyers and public prosecutors who argued that the amendment rewards high-profile tax evaders, limits public prosecutors’ independence and tarnishes Greece’s reputation.

The legislation calls for freezing criminal probes by prosecutors and court hearings of more than 5,000 alleged tax evaders with debts to the Greek state of more than EUR150,000 each.

Greece’s justic...