He was sentenced to pre-trial detention retired ELAS officer who was arrested accused of involvement in the ring of illegal Greekizations, through fake passports and identity cards, whose activity was revealed by the Internal Affairs Service of the Security Forces of Northern Greece, after a months-long investigation.

In addition to the 58-year-old ex-policeman, the 59-year-old alleged “brain” of the ring, as well as three other members (two women and a man) are being sent to prison. Instead, the 59-year-old’s wife and son, who are accused in the same case, were released.

They were preceded by marathon apologies before the 2nd regular investigator of Thessaloniki and their criminal treatment was decided with the consent of the public prosecutor.

Both o 59 years old, accused as a leader of the criminal organization, as well as the retired officer, denied the charges against them and defended their innocence. According to information, they apologized saying that they have nothing to do with the illegal issuance of passports and identity cards and stressing that absolutely no transaction occurred between them, while the former stated that he was merely acting as an interpreter when those interested came to issue the documents.

From the investigation of the “corrupt” ELAS, it emerged that the ring’s activity started at least from October 2021, with its profits estimated at 210,000 euros and benefiting foreigners from the former USSR, most of whom had a criminal past in the country of their origin and after receiving the forged documents, they not only obtained Greek citizenship enjoying all the rights it entails, but also achieved the deletion of their criminal records.

According to the case file, the beneficiaries appear to have subsequently traveled for permanent settlement in Canada, the USA and EU countries such as Portugal and Italy. The case file includes 24 cases of illegal issuance of Greek identity cards and passports, with the “tariff” for each successful issuance of a document ranging from 15,000 euros.