Chalkidiki Urban Planning Mafia Uncovered, Arrests Made

Learner News | 14/12/2024

Today’s Greek Learner News takes a look at a criminal network unraveling in Chalkidiki, where professionals face serious charges. Discover the scope of the investigation and the number of individuals taken into custody.

Chalkidiki Urban Planning Mafia Uncovered, Arrests Made

The news in Greek

Στη Χαλκιδική διερευνάται1 ένα εγκληματικό δίκτυο2 με άτομα που εμπλέκονται3 σε δωροδοκίες και παράνομες4 άδειες. Συμμετέχουν αρχιτέκτονες, μηχανικοί και τοπογράφοι. Είκοσι ένας άνθρωποι συνελήφθησαν και δώδεκα εμφανίστηκαν στον ανακριτή5 . Οι κατηγορίες περιλαμβάνουν δωροδοκία και ξέπλυμα6 χρήματος. Κάποιοι αφέθηκαν ελεύθεροι με εγγύηση και με περιοριστικούς όρους.

  1. διερευνώ
    εξετάζω κάτι προσεκτικά για να ανακαλύψω πληροφορίες. ↩︎
  2. δίκτυο (n.)
    σύνολο συνδεδεμένων ατόμων ή πραγμάτων που συνεργάζονται. ↩︎
  3. εμπλέκομαι
    συμμετέχω ή έχω σχέση με κάτι. ↩︎
  4. παράνομος
    κάτι που δεν είναι σύμφωνο με τον νόμο. ↩︎
  5. ανακριτής (m.)
    δικαστικός λειτουργός που διερευνά εγκλήματα. ↩︎
  6. ξέπλυμα (n.)
    πράξη του καθαρισμού βρώμικου χρήματος για εμφάνιση νόμιμου. ↩︎

Translation

In Chalkidiki, there is an investigation into a criminal network involving individuals engaged in bribery and illegal permits. Architects, engineers, and surveyors are involved. Twenty-one people have been arrested, and twelve have appeared before the investigating judge. The charges include bribery and money laundering. Some were released on bail with restrictive conditions.

Text Comprehension

Question: Who are involved in the criminal network in Chalkidiki?

Architects, engineers, and surveyors are involved in the criminal network.

Question: How many people were arrested in the investigation?

Twenty-one people were arrested.

Vocabulary

GreekEnglish
διερευνώinvestigate
δίκτυο (n.)network
εμπλέκομαιinvolve
παράνομοςillegal
ανακριτής (m.)magistrate
ξέπλυμα (n.)money laundering

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Read the full story

Revelatory footage released by local media captures the audacious nature of these activities. One of the key clips shows a planning officer meeting an engineer in a dining establishment in Thessaloniki, discreetly exchanging a folder that presumably contained bribe money. These interactions typically took place in busy locations, highlighting the group’s apparent confidence in their operations.

The ongoing judicial process has so far seen the release of several individuals who were initially detained. Out of the 21 people arrested, 12 have appeared before the magistrate in Polygyros. These include private individuals, with most being architects, civil engineers, and surveyors. Despite their release, restrictions have been imposed, including mandatory police check-ins and travel bans, and some were required to post substantial bail sums, ranging from €5,000 to €60,000. The former mayor, who is a civil engineer, and a relative of a primary suspect were amongst those with the highest bail amounts.

Chalkidiki Urban Planning Mafia Uncovered, Arrests Made
Chalkidiki Urban Planning Mafia Uncovered, Arrests Made

Photos accompanying these revelations depict members of the network exchanging money both in cafes and within banking institutions, further illustrating the widespread nature of these unlawful activities. As the interrogations continue, the other nine arrested individuals are expected to appear, including four municipal building department employees from Sithonia and Nea Propontida, as well as two members of the Architectural Council of the Regional Unit of Chalkidiki.

Charges against the accused vary but prominently feature leading or participating in a criminal organisation, bribery and corruption, contributing to such activities, and money laundering. Despite the substantial evidence, all the accused steadfastly deny any wrongdoing, with some claiming they had no choice but to participate to maintain their professional practices.

Info: “Greek Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Greek,” a language school dedicated to teaching Greek. We offer various types of online Greek courses and provide resources to help our students with their Greek learn journey.


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