A Greek court ordered four suspected ringleaders of a multimillion-euro social security fraud network into pre-trial detention early Saturday, following marathon hearings that stretched through the night.
By Lia Kontopoulou
The four — two accountants, an advertising executive and a former reality television contestant — were identified by the examining magistrate and prosecutor as the alleged masterminds of a scheme that defrauded EFKA, Greece's main social security fund, of at least 5 million euros. Total liabilities to the state are estimated at 31 million euros.
The remaining 18 of the 22 defendants arrested were released on restrictive conditions, with bail set between 10,000 and 50,000 euros for some.
All defendants denied the charges. Several pointed to the accountants as responsible for their involvement. One businessman told the court he considered himself a victim. "They have forged even my identity card," he said.
"They opened businesses in my name without my knowledge. I discovered that a police officer's ID is circulating with my photograph and Albanian-origin details. I am in shock."
The network was dismantled following an investigation that began with labor inspectors before being handed to Greece's organized crime unit — commonly referred to as the Greek FBI. Authorities said the ring's complex structure had shielded it from routine audits, operating through a web of shell companies to conceal extensive tax evasion and fraudulent social security claims.
The case was among those cited by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his Sunday weekly address as evidence of progress in tackling organized crime.