Temporary prisoners 5 of the 7 arrested accused of participating in the pimping ring which was revealed by the EL.AS long-term investigation were found guilty.

Among those headed for prison is the 43-year-old alleged ringleader, as well as his wife and their son.

In addition to sexually exploiting women, the same criminal organization appears to have run (and attempted) scams with fake car accidents, while lending money claiming monthly interest rates approaching 20%.

Already yesterday, two members of the ring had been pardoned, with the first being remanded in custody and the second being released. Today it was the turn of the remaining five to give explanations to the 5th regular investigator handling the case.

The defendants are prosecuted for directing, forming and joining a criminal organization, and as the case may be, for pimping and complicity in this act, human trafficking, money laundering, fraud (committed and attempted), direct complicity in fraud, obtaining a false certificate, false declaration and illegal possession of a weapon.

What the alleged “mastermind” apologized for

The 43-year-old who is said to be the “leader” of the criminal organization during his apology denied all the charges. “I did not promote, nor push, nor force another into prostitution, and I never took advantage of the proceeds of another’s prostitution,” he reportedly apologized to the interrogator.

In addition, he denied that he legalized illegal income through the purchase of cars, stressing, according to information, that the purchase and sale took place as part of his commercial activity since 2014, when he established a relevant sole proprietorship. He denied that he committed fraud through virtual traffic accidents.

However, his claims did not convince the prosecutor and interrogator who unanimously “showed” him the way to prison, as well as to four of his co-accused. The two who were released, a man and a woman, were given restrictive conditions.