News that a list of 25 senior AADE officials allegedly taking bribes was found in the office of the accountant for Giannakopoulos, owner of the Choriatiko chain, which is under investigation for millions in tax evasion, raises legitimate questions about the AADE governor’s responsibility, SYRIZA said in a statement, citing a report by the newspaper Documento.
Citing the report, the party said: “The officials allegedly involved in the network hold key positions within the AADE and are personal choices of G. Pitsilis, as are all senior officials.
The ‘untouchable’ AADE governor, G. Pitsilis, has a lot to answer for:
Two major cases of tax evasion have come to light recently. Did his much-vaunted agency know nothing? Did it ever investigate these businesses, or were the AADE’s ‘radar’ focused on small debtors? How does Mr Pitsilis ‘prioritise’ inspections?
Is the AADE’s Internal Affairs Service working? It only remembered on Saturday to request information, ‘on the governor’s orders’, on any involvement by Authority employees in the scandal involving Mr Choriatiko. And what tangible results can it point to?
Many of the officials allegedly taking bribes in the Choriatiko scandal had previously faced complaints against them in letters sent to the AADE. Were these ever taken seriously? Was a proper internal investigation at the AADE carried out? Was Mr Pitsilis not concerned by complaints against Authority officials whom he himself had appointed to key positions?
Mr Pitsilis’s term at the helm of the AADE has been renewed twice under New Democracy governments. Are the ministers responsible and K. Mitsotakis satisfied with the results of his leadership?
Are they satisfied with the situation in the country, where large chains evade tax ‘in broad daylight’, big businesspeople set up nationwide tax avoidance networks and the AADE looks the other way?
Tax evasion does more than simply cause millions in lost revenue for the public purse. It severely damages public trust: citizens tighten their belts to pay their taxes, while at the same time the ‘big fish’ act with impunity and slip unhindered through the AADE’s leaky net.
We say this plainly: The government must remove Mr Pitsilis now as head of the AADE and take meaningful measures to strengthen the tax authorities and crack down on corruption,” the statement concludes.