Μake us preferred on Google It was supposed to be a refuge of hope for children fighting for their lives. Instead, it became a personal luxury fund. The donations that citizens made to the “Paidiki Chara” NGO, often from what little they had, believing they were giving young heroes a lifeline, ended up paying for luxury hotel suites, expensive drinks, bouzouki clubs and betting.
The conversations recorded by the Hellenic Police’s wiretap reveal a chilling indifference. Konstantinos Firinidis, the leader of the ring, spent citizens’ money without hesitation to live a lavish life full of personal pleasures, betraying the trust of thousands of people who simply wanted to help save a child.
“Should I make it a thousand on drinks?”
One conversation between the 37-year-old alleged ring leader and another man is especially revealing.
Man: First thing. Uh, what minimum spend do you want us to set? A thousand? Uh, let me ask you, should I put down a thousand on drinks?
K. Firinidis: Yes.
Man: Should I make it a thousand on drinks?
K. Firinidis: Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Man: And the flowers, whatever you tell me.
K. Firinidis: Great, and 500 for you?
Man: Okay, whatever you like.
K. Firinidis: Yes, my love. Great.
Man: Great. Okay?
K. Firinidis: It’ll be us, I won’t bring a whole group there now, I don’t feel like it, uh, it’ll be three or four of us.
Man: Three or four who’ll sit in the back, [expletive]. Or come on, do you want to, [expletive], or not?
K. Firinidis: I do. How did we get burned like that last time, [expletive]?
“Bet it, put it all in”
While one conversation captured reckless luxury, the next revealed another “game”: illegal betting on fixed matches.
Overall, the authorities’ investigation shows that Firinidis deposited more than 2.6 million euros into betting accounts and made withdrawals of more than 2 million euros. The case file includes recorded conversations about interference with referees, financial arrangements and match fixing.
In the recordings, the mastermind of the organization is heard suggesting specific bets to the person he is talking to and urging him to place them.
K. Firinidis: Bet, bet over 2.5 on (club name) and both teams to score, under-19s. Put it in, put it in, go all in, go all in.
Man: What time are they playing?
K. Firinidis: They’re playing now, go all in at halftime.
Man: What did you say? (club name)
K. Firinidis: (club name) under-19s against (club name), over and both teams to score.
Man: Over 2.5 and both teams to score?
K. Firinidis: Yes.
Man: Okay.
Cigars, upscale restaurants and pools
Konstantinos Firinidis appears to have had multiple roles and activities. He made media appearances presenting the NGO’s work. “We put in some money from our own pockets, and with that money we hold whatever events we can, and we receive some donations from citizens,” he said.
The money collected through bank deposits and donation boxes did not all reach the children’s families. On the contrary, according to the investigation’s findings, a significant part of it allegedly went to the personal comfort of those involved and became a means of personal enrichment.
The defendant posted photos of cigars, upscale restaurants and swimming pools on social media. The public image of charity work, with awards and photos alongside people linked to social causes, contrasted with the image of wealth he projected.
In total, the association allegedly collected about 3.9 million euros from bank deposits and fundraisers with donation boxes. Of that amount, only 1.1 million euros went to financially support 55 identified children, while the remaining 2.8 million euros was allegedly kept by the defendants.
