Corfu: Ring of extortionists in the DOU – Involved tax officials and an accountant –

A ring of extortionists at the tax office in Corfu was dismantled by EL.AS and four tax officials and an accountant were arrested, while their homes are being searched.

According to information from police sources, cited by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, the tax officials allegedly approached, through the accountant, taxpayers, who either had tax debts or had refunds from the tax office and extracted large sums of money, in order to provide them with facilities .

The arrested are expected to be brought before the prosecutor today.

Hatzidakis: We do not compromise with corruption

“We do not compromise with corruption,” said the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis.

“As was seen in the well-known, unpleasant case of Chalkida a few months ago, the Ministry of Finance is not going to indulge in any corruption phenomena in the services it supervises. AADE reacted very quickly then, it reacted decisively and now, in Corfu.

Let’s all understand: taxpayers have a demand on us to be fair and efficient. Even more, they do not tolerate corruption phenomena. We do our best every day to meet this reasonable demand of theirs. We do not compromise with corruption!”

Finally, it should be noted that as reported by the information, the deputy director and three employees of the DOU Corfu were immediately arrested following a complaint by the AADE.

Pitsilis: No tolerance

“We have said it and we mean it: we have zero tolerance for any phenomenon of corruption. In principle, but also in practice. That is why, as soon as information about the activity of a corruption ring came to our attention, we immediately requested the assistance of the Directorate of Internal Affairs of ELAS, so that a thorough investigation could be carried out and the case would take the path of Justice” said the Commander of AADE Giorgos Pitsilis

“Let everyone know that this will continue to be the only way forward whenever we find evidence of corruption. No one is above the oath they have taken to serve the law and the public interest,” he added.