He was arrestedevening hours yesterday, Monday, February 12, 2024, by the Internal Affairs Service of the Security Forces, in the context of the autoforos, Regional Unit employee, accused of breach of official and professional duty, misappropriation of documents, bribery, false declaration and violation of the Arms Act.

The file that was formed also includes -2- individuals, who were also arrested accused of bribing an employee and violating the drug legislation, respectively.

There was a complaint, according to which the official was systematically used to issue machine operator’s licenses, a task that was within his competence.

How was he acting?

As it emerged from the investigation, the specific employee, at least since December 2023, holding the position of supervisor, demanded and received sums of money from individuals with the purpose of speeding up the issuance or illegally issuing relevant permits, as well as ensuring their success in diploma examinations, regardless of their performance.

Specifically, on a case-by-case basis, he demanded sums of money:

  • 300 – 350 euros, for speeding up the issuance of machine operator licenses, to interested parties who met the conditions,
  • 1,500 – 3,500 euros, for the issuance of machine operator licenses to interested parties who did not meet all the conditions (in this case, it was required to find and finance master craftsmen who would certify false information regarding necessary prior service),
  • 300 – 500 euros, for giving interested parties questions in upcoming theoretical exams for obtaining a relevant diploma, as well as for certifying their success in said exams, regardless of their actual performance.
  • In order to avoid the disclosure of his action, he took special precautionary measures concerning the way of meeting the interested parties, the receipt of the sums of money as well as the communications with them, during which he also used code words.
  • In addition, he would take to the house the file of the interested parties as well as the stamp of his Service, so that beyond his working hours he could seamlessly prepare the relevant documents.

From the preliminary investigation so far, 14 cases of bribery have been investigatedwhile in the last case a police operation was carried out resulting in the arrest of him and the individual concerned.

What did the investigations find?

In physical searches and in searches of his home and vehicle, a total of the following were found and seized:

  • -18,810- euros,
  • -1,500- dollars,
  • -4- watches,
  • pistol and -80- cartridges,
  • number of stamps and applications,
  • -13- files of interested parties,
  • counterfeit banknote,
  • mobile phone, laptop, -2- tablet and hard drive.
  • At the same time, 12.35 grams of cannabis were found and confiscated inside his house, for which a relative of the employee was arrested.

Those arrested were taken to the competent prosecuting authority.