A well-planned “intelligence” operation involving a 64-year-old tax inspector was dismantled in Thessaloniki, following a systematic investigation by the Internal Affairs Service of the Security Corps of Northern Greece. The accused had allegedly turned his auditing capacity into a source of illegal income. According to the authorities, the tax inspector informed shopkeepers in time about upcoming inspections of his service, so that they could “correct” any irregularities, of course collecting the appropriate fee.
But his action did not stop there. The “Incorruptible” of the National Police proceeded to the arrest of a 76-year-old retired tax inspector, who allegedly acted as the link and intermediary between the active employee and the interested businessmen.
The countdown to the duo began in 2024, when a citizen decided to break his silence. The complaint that reached the authorities was the beginning of a months-long investigation that resulted in arrests, revealing the depth of corruption behind the closed doors of the audit apparatus.
The 64-year-old, who serves at a central tax office in Thessaloniki, is also alleged to have interfered with the responsibilities of other departments in order to turn a blind eye to controlled businesses.
Other people are being controlled for the same case, including colleagues – tax officials of the main accused, employees of other services, accountants and shopkeepers. The businesses, according to the case file, are mainly of health care interest.
The two arrested men were earlier brought before the prosecutor of the first instance, who filed a felony charge and referred them to a special investigator, from whom they were given a deadline for the next few days (until then they remain in custody).
The charges relate to the following acts: criminal gang, bribery of an official, direct complicity in bribery of an official, breach of duty (committed and attempted), instigating a breach of duty, breach of official secrecy (serial), use of official secrecy with the purpose of harming the State (serial), attempted extortion with the threat of harm to a company, violation of the law on intermediaries (trafficking – influence) and obtaining a false certificate, as reported by APE-MPA.
