A shocking taxpayer extortion scandal has been exposed on the picturesque island of Corfu, as revealed by a joint investigation by the Hellenic Police (ELAS) and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE). This scandal comes hot on the heels of a similar corruption case unearthed at the Halkida tax office (DOY) on the stunning Evia island.
The crackdown on Friday morning led to the dismantling of a criminal organization allegedly involved in extortion and bribery, with four tax officials — including the deputy director of the Corfu tax office — and a local accountant taken into custody.
The accused are believed to have targeted business owners with unpaid tax debts and coerced them into making payments through their illicit network. The accountant is said to have played a significant role in initiating the extortion tactics.
With evidence linking the suspects to multiple extortion cases, recorded conversations have shed light on the intricate workings of the criminal network. The accused individuals are set to face a prosecutor and an investigating judge to provide their statements.
Reacting to the unsettling developments, Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis reiterated the government’s uncompromising stance against corruption, emphasizing the swift and decisive action taken by AADE in both the Halkida and Corfu cases.