5.2.13
The Internal Affairs agency of the Greek Police is examining the possible involvement of a current high-ranking police officer in a large network of extortionists, which operated in Corfu and other areas in Greece.
The investigation was prompted by the report by a former New Democracy MP, stating that the officer in name urged him to “take care of his business with the moneylenders” and to “not get involved with them”. Similar testimonies were made by four other victims of the network, also mentioning the police officer’s role.
A few days ago the Greek Police arrested a network of loan sharks based in Corfu, which operated from 2005 and employed 63 people. The police arrested 22 people on charges of money laundering and extortion. At least 100 people fell victim to the gang, losing millions of euros, with 47 of them revealing information about the gang in their testimonies.
At least five people confirm that “the high-ranking police officer instead of commencing prosecution proceedings for the loan sharks, advised them to pay off their debts”. The former MP notes that the high-ranking police officer told him “not to mess with the head shark”.
Another police officer explained that since local judicial authorities did not act upon the reports, since there was no apparent communication between the accused police officer and members of the gang, the case was forwarded to Internal Affairs for further investigation.
