The ring of corrupt officials, which operated mainly in the northern suburbs but also in central Athens, is alleged to have been involved in widespread activity, including dozens of cases of bribery and illegal favors, according to the case file of the Internal Affairs Service.
In Ekali, members of the ring allegedly secured, in exchange for an undisclosed sum of money, the issuance of a permit for a property that had already been fined for unauthorized construction. In Kifissia, 5,000 euros were demanded to legalize a three-story building with a swimming pool, while in Marousi, there is a recorded case of an illegal permit issuance and the filing of a complaint regarding unauthorized construction, with a bribe of at least 3,000 euros.
At the same time, the ring is alleged to have been active in central Athens as well, with a key member holding meetings at a hotel to resolve unauthorized construction issues in a high-rise building.
A specific case involves a property in Kerameikos, where a sum of 40,000 euros was demanded to alter photographs and mislead regulatory authorities.
The organization’s activities extended beyond Attica, with a notable case in Mykonos, where the “resolution” of an unauthorized structure reportedly cost 15,000 euros. According to the investigation’s findings, the alleged ringleader, a 50-year-old woman, personally mediated in this specific case.
Recorded conversations also mention the payment of “under-the-table” money.
In total, more than 25 cases of bribery, abuse of authority, and breach of official duties are included in the case file, while the involvement of another 30 individuals is being investigated.
The authorities’ investigation is in full swing.
SOURCE: ERT