One of the biggest corruption cases in Rhodes in recent years has been unfolding in the multi -page case file formed by ELAS Internal Affairs Police Officers, while judicial authorities are continuing the investigation to determine the full range of criminal action.

The scandal proves the need for stricter controls and transparency in public administration in order to eliminate similar corruption phenomena that undermine the state and the confidence of citizens.

As the “Democratic” in June 2024 reveals Friday, the Hellenic Police Service of the Hellenic Police has a complaint of extensive corruption to the Rhodes building (Town Planning). According to the complaint, employees and cooperating engineers for remuneration illegally issued building permits, modified records and proceeded with arbitration with false certificates.

After a preliminary examination, the research revealed an organized network with a structured hierarchy, where each member had a specific role. The data came from removal of communications privacy, electronic databases, witness deposits and out -of -service activities.

The defendants and the categories

Accused of criminal organization, bribery, bribery, forgery, false certificates and breach of duty are:

-Women, 49 years old (Head of the Department of Publishing Licenses)
-Andra, 56 years old (Head of Construction Control Department)
-Andra, 54 years old (Deputy Building Director)
-Andra, 65 years old (Building Service Officer)
-Nandra, 54 years old (Building Service Officer)
-Andra, 68 years old (private architect-engineer)
-Women, 48 years old (private civil engineer)

In addition, a case file was filed for another 21 people involved in cases of false certificates and bribery.

The prosecutions brought are the following:

  1. Integration into a criminal organization
  2. Ongoing forgery where the total benefit exceeds 120,000 euros
  3. Documentation of documents by a continuous employee where the intended total benefit exceeds EUR 120,000
  4. Givency of an employee by profession where the action or omission is contrary to the duties of the ongoing
  5. IMMEDIATELY SYMPHODY IN GIFT ASSEMBLY ASSOCIATION where the action or omission is contrary to the duties of the ongoing ongoing
  6. Brinking an employee where the action or omission is contrary to the duties of the ongoing ongoing
  7. Influence trading – intermediaries on a continuous
  8. False certificate, continuously distorting where the intended total benefit exceeds 120,000 euros
  9. Immediate synergy in false certificate, continuous distraction where the intended total benefit exceeds 120,000 euros
  10. Infringement of duty by continuing
  11. IMMEDIATELY SYMPHOD
  12. Illegal possession
  13. Infringement

Police Operation and findings

During the investigations of the accused’s homes, police authorities found:
At the residence of the 49 -year -old head of the Department of Edition of Building Licenses:

– 478,640 euros in cash
– 21 gold pounds
– Three deposits booklets
– Service stamp of Rhodes Town Planning
– A number of building documents and handwritten notes
– luxurious bags of well -known houses
At the residence of the 56 -year -old Head of Construction Control Department:

– 1,640 euros in cash
– a multitude of urban documents
At the residence of 54 -year -old Deputy Director:

– 28,400 euros in cash
– Six Urban Planning seals
– Three stamps of former urban planning officials
At the residence of 65 -year -old building employee:

– 10,400 euros in cash
– Crystal pistol with magazine and cartridges
– Two knives
– Two fake signs of car
– Service Book with Protocol Numks of Building Licenses
At the residence of 68-year-old architect-engineer:

– 20,915 euros in cash
– 193 Natural Folders from the Archive of Town Planning
– A number of fake building documents
– Two service stamps
– a shotgun
– Bronze coins of archaeological value
At the residence of 48 -year -old civil engineer:

– 37,700 euros in cash
– Numerous documents printed by the TEE Information System
– a manuscript agenda
The 57 -year -old former director of urban planning was arrested in order to investigate his degree of involvement in the case, but so far there is no sufficient evidence of his involvement in the criminal organization. In his possession and in investigations carried out at his home and his vehicle, among other things, 900 euros were found and confiscated, a number of keys corresponding to the Rhodes Town Planning offices and a mobile phone.

Structure and operation circuit

The criminal network had managed to establish control mechanism within Rhodes Town Planning, making it essentially a “parallel” private interest service.
The involved had clearly shaped roles:
• Senior employees ensured the approval of illegal licenses and the modification of the files.
• File employees falsified or eliminated folders, creating new, fake enrollments.
• Mechanical-demeanors undertook contact with customers and the distribution of illegal amounts of money.

The group often used coded terminology for their transactions:
• “Fee”: money fee for “handling”
• “lettuce” / “grease”: money
• “cousin”: Reference to Deputy Director

Circuit fees ranged from 30,000 to 100,000 euros per case, depending on the nature and severity of the intervention.
Categories faced by arrested

Stakeholders face heavy categories, including:
• Criminal organization (Article 187 CC)
• forgery (Article 216 CC)
• Employee bribery (Article 235 BC)
• An official bribery (Article 236 BC)
• Trading of influence (Article 237A BC)
• False certificate (Article 242 CC)
• breach of duty (Article 259 CC)
• Violation of provisions on Antiquities Protection (Law 4858/2021)

What the ‘corrupt’ attribute to the defendants

The architect-engineer (68 years old), as a central figure, is said to have coordinated the organization. He is given that he was issuing irregular or forged building permits, arbitrary constructions and reduced fines, contacting the rest of the Rhodes Building Service. Specifically, he allegedly cooperated closely with the Deputy Director (54 years), the Head of the Department of Publishing Licenses (48 years), the Head of the Construction Control Department (55 years), the employee of the archive (64 years) and the employee of the service (54).

The architect-engineer allegedly had regular contact with the record employee (64 years old), who had access to the files and building permits. In a financial return, the employee allegedly delivered him dossiers, which were either amended or removed from the archive, causing their reconstitution process. In addition, the architect-engineer is accused of proceeding with registrations of past licenses in the service books, essentially fractating the records, in collaboration with the record of the archive, receiving € 5,000 for each registration.

The architect-engineer used a stamp of the service, validating fake documents, extending the power of building permits or facilitating their use for electricity buildings. The record employee (64 years old) allegedly had been briefed if someone was looking for licenses, preventing the disclosure of irregularities.

When he wanted to reduce fines of arbitrators, he communicated with the Head of the Construction Control Department (55 years), requiring money from interested parties and attributing them to the boss for favorable cases. At the same time, he allegedly received information from the employee (54 years old) on scheduled autopsies in order to protect the interests of the team.

The Head of the Department of Publishing Licenses (48 years) allegedly facilitated the procedure, providing false certificates, issuing or reviewing licenses in violation of the law, requiring or receiving unfair benefits. Often, he suggested that the applicants work with the Civil Engineer (48 years old), who executed orders, while maintaining pending in the e-shows for future use.

The boss (48 years old) allegedly exploited the legislation for the extension of building permits, amending documents to appear in force from 2011, facilitating their re -review. In return, it required money, reaching € 5,000 per fake registration. Also, as a member of the Council of Planning Issues, he intervened in cases in exchange for financial benefits.

The Head of the Construction Control Department (55 years), in addition to his cooperation with the boss and architect-engineer, took advantage of his position, imposing fines on arbitrarily, to be approached by interested parties to reduce them. It has offered alternatives, such as reduced fines or lifting work interruption, requiring financial rewards. The financial claims for such cases according to him were up to € 100,000.

The network had created a system of corruption, utilizing positions of power and institutional tools to serve illegal interests, causing a serious impact on the legality of urban planning.