Businessman Angelos Giannakopoulos, owner of the “To Choriatiko” bakery chain, was remanded in custody following his questioning yesterday as part of an investigation into an alleged financial fraud network estimated to have cost the Greek state more than €100 million. He faces charges of involvement in a criminal organization, tax evasion, fraud, breach of restrictive conditions and forgery.
The first round of questioning ended with seven defendants remanded in custody, including former GENOP-DEI trade unionist Rizos Rizos. Another 29 defendants are expected to appear before investigators today.
Authorities are investigating an extensive network of companies allegedly used for tax evasion, evasion of social security contributions and fraud. The case involves 149 individuals and 520 companies. According to police, the alleged scheme involved transferring businesses to nominees, accumulating debts and filing for bankruptcy repeatedly. Investigators are also examining financial transactions through foreign bank accounts and companies.
A separate part of the investigation concerns possible links to police officers and public officials, including those at the Public Property Service, EFKA and local authorities.
During questioning, one defendant reportedly said he had acted as a nominee director for nine companies in exchange for €500 every two weeks. Giannakopoulos denies the allegations of fraud and concealment of taxable income, maintaining that the corporate changes served legitimate business purposes.
Investigators are also examining possible links to police officers and public officials. Wiretaps reportedly revealed that two serving police officers warned the manager of a nightclub on Syngrou Avenue about upcoming inspections. In Rhodes, a police officer allegedly searched a police database for the license plate numbers of vehicles belonging to the Organized Crime Directorate and passed the information to the businessman’s associates. Authorities are also investigating contacts with officials from EFKA, the Labour Inspectorate and local government.
Sources: Kathimerini (1, 2, 3)
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