A major operation by the Internal Affairs Division is currently underway to dismantle a ring involved in bribery and corruption related to the legalization of real estate and plots of land of all kinds.
So far, six individuals have been arrested, including employees of the Urban Planning Departments and the Decentralized Administration, two of whom are supervisors in municipalities of the Northern Suburbs, employees and committee members of the Decentralized Administration, and a private engineer, while the case file also involves 32 additional individuals, some of whom are urban planning officials and others from the provinces.
According to reports, the ring members, in exchange for payments, illegally processed building permits, reduced fines for confirmed urban planning violations, and resolved all kinds of outstanding issues related to plots of land and buildings.
According to ERT, the ring carried out these specific arrangements in exchange for 1,000 to 30,000 euros, depending on the case; it is estimated that their activities spanned several years, while over 300,000 euros have been seized during home searches.
Official announcements from the Internal Affairs Department are expected following the completion of the operation.
The arrested individuals have already been brought before the prosecutor, who has charged them with serious felonies, including, among others, leading and participating in a criminal organization, a distinct case of money laundering, and bribery and corruption. They have been summoned to appear before an investigating judge next Tuesday to answer the charges.