A local prosecutor on Wednesday filed felony and misdemeanor charges against nine individuals in a case involving bribes to employees in seven land registry offices in the greater Athens area to “facilitate” various legal applications and requests.
Six of the suspects are employees of the offices (the national cadastre), while three are private citizens accused of being the “intermediaries”.
The case is the latest instance of alleged corruption in public entities that have extensive interaction with citizens, i.e. building permits, taxation and land use.
The arrests and indictment came after an investigation by Greek Police’s internal affairs division.
Most of the alleged bribes involved transfers of real estate from one party to another, an administrative action that in the past was plagued by severe delays.
According to the latest reports on Wednesday, dozens of other people may be involved, up to 60.
All of the nine suspects requested and received a continuance in order to provide testimony before an investigating magistrate on Friday.
