New facts are coming to light about the case of the criminal organization of tax officials who blackmailed businessmen in Corfu.

According to information, in addition to the five arrested, information states that a case file has been filed against another tax official in Corfu with the charge of breach of duty.

Still within the day there are expected to be developments for one more accountant on the island while finally the case seems to be involved as well 3 businessmen of the island for bribery.

In order to dismantle the criminal organization, a police operation was carried out in Corfu on Thursday. A case file was filed against them – as the case may be – for criminal organization, bribery and bribery of an employee, complicity in bribery, breach of duty and extortion by complicity. They are expected to apologize on Tuesday.

According to ELAS, there was a previous complaint regarding the illegal action of two D.O.Y. employees, who, taking advantage of their position, demanded the sum of 60,000 euros from a businessman, in order to settle his pending case.

As pointed out in the relevant announcement, in the context of the investigation, the existence of a criminal organization emerged, with continuous action, a specific structure and distinct roles, in which D.O.Y. employees participated. Corfu and private accountant.

How did the organization work?

In particular, as it emerged, at least since May 2024, the members of the criminal organization were facilitating, omitting or performing procedures of fiscal authority contrary to their official duties as employees, as well as blackmailing businessmen, where, taking advantage of their status, they demanded money sums as a consideration, so that their tax outstandings could be processed. The demand for the money was made, primarily, through a private accountant, a member of the organization, in order to prevent the members-employees from having direct contact with their victims, while at the same time making sure that they received special counter-surveillance measures both during their action and during their communications.

According to ELAS, the leader of the organization was responsible for coordinating, receiving and distributing the sums of money to the other members, while he did not hesitate to threaten employees and accountants who might leak the organization’s activity. At the same time, he ensured appropriate information about counter-surveillance methods, so that the operational members of the organization would feel unpersecuted, during the -on his order- the targeted controls they were carrying out.

Furthermore, the other tax officials were essential for the operation of the organization, as due to their duties they either exercised direct supervision and control over the other employees, thus determining the speed and manner of processing the cases, or carried out on-the-spot audits of businesses at the command of the headquarters member.

Finally, the accountant was an intermediary between the employees and the taxpayers, charged with the direct contact and communication between the Auditing Authority and the auditees. Also, according to his role, he received and delivered sums of money from the taxpayers to the employees, himself ensuring preferential treatment of his clients from the D.O.Y.

From the searches carried out in houses, vehicles, other places as well as from the possession of the accused, among others, the following were found and confiscated:

• 42,480 euros in total,

• $1,770

• mobile phones, agendas and tax documents.

So far it has been established that, since the end of May 2024, the criminal organization has been involved in 8 cases, while it has been established that its members demanded a total of at least 183,000 euros and managed to receive at least 38,000 euros .

Those arrested were taken to the competent Prosecutor’s Office, where they were referred to an investigator and given a deadline to apologize.

Pitsilis: Corruption has no place in AADE

Speaking on Saturday morning on SKAI and on the show “Kalimera” with Fai Mavragani, the Governor of the Independent Public Revenue Authority, Giorgos Pitsilis, reported on the case: “Information has come to our attention that there are indications of the operation of a circuit in Corfu. Corruption has no place in AADE. We immediately contacted the Internal Affairs Service of the police to investigate the case in depth and take the path of Justice.”

“The path of justice will continue to be the only path we will follow for any such phenomenon. These phenomena have no place in AADE. They also tarnish the image of the authorities who do their job honestly to serve the citizen and protect the public interest”, he added.

Asked if the arrested will be removed from the AADE, Mr. Pitsilis emphasized that “all the prescribed procedures will be followed”.