Major extortion, loan-shark rings smashed in Thessaloniki

Source: Athensnews.gr

Police in Thessaloniki on Thrusday said they have smashed a multimillion-euro moneylending ring, involving prominent personalities and officials from the northern city.

A senior financial crimes squad (SDOE) investigator, senior bank executives, lawyers, police officers, a journalist at a public broadcaster ERT, a tax bureau employee, a doctor, local businessmen and even a former football player are among the 53 people arrested by police on as part of a major operation against organised crime.

Police say the suspects are involved in four intertwined extortion, loan-shark, fraud and money-laundering rings.

All the suspects lead before the courts on Thursday and were charged with a variety of offences, including extortion, moneylending and fraud.

According to authorities, individuals who borrowed money from the loan-shark racket were charged up to 80 percent interest on overdue loans.

The probe is linked with the suicide of a 45-year-old local businessman last June, as well as the attempted suicide of a 58-year-old insurance agent last October.

It is understood that a suicide note left by one of the men helped police with their investigations, which were launched seven months ago following the arrest of a 35-year-old Greek Syrian last April, suspected of heading an extortion and money laundering racket.

Authorities said the rings made off with as much as 43.5 million euros, based on evidence available in a massive 15,000-page indictment, including 3,500 pages of transcripts of intercepted mobile phone conversations.

Police have arrested the five alleged ring leaders, among them a 58-year-old businessman, a nightclub owner who had run for deputy regional governor in the 2010 local government elections.

The 12-member gang ostensibly headed by the 58-year-old was set up in late 2003. Police believe it laundered its profits by claiming wins on lottery tickets and football bets.

A second gang, comprising 13 members, became active in late 2008 and was headed by a 53-year-old local businessman, who declared no sources of income in the period from 2006 to 2010. The profits it amassed between 2008 and 2010 are estimated at 2.2m euros.

The third gang was formed in late 2009 and its alleged leader is a 38-year-old man who had filed no tax statements since 2005. The ring had 14 members, among them, a bank employee, a medical doctor and a prison inmate.

The fourth gang, comprising 19 members, was formed in late 2001 and was headed by three brothers, a 32-year-old and two 43-year-olds.

Searches of suspects’ homes in Thessaloniki and in the regions of Halkidiki and Serres revealed four firearms, two pistols, knives, brass knuckles, truncheons, cartridges, numerous cheques, private agreements, jewellery and a total of 172,000 euros in cash.

The tax bureau official was also identified as a cadre of the PASOK-affiliated PASKE union.

Police say the ring operated for up to 15 years and the proceeds were lodged in Swiss bank accounts.

 

http://www.emg.rs/en/news/region/173106.html