Tax office corruption case file shocking

Late on Tuesday night, possibly even after eight o'clock, the decision of the Prosecutor and the Investigating Judge is expected regarding the imposition of pre-trial measures on the five and four additional defendants in the tax office (DOY) corruption case. They are expected to be brought before the Investigating Judge to testify 12 hours earlier, starting at eight in the morning. Facing different charges, some are expected to be remanded in custody, while others will have restrictive conditions imposed on them.

The most serious charge they face is the formation of a criminal organisation, which involves felony-level offences. Not all defendants face this charge, but it primarily applies to the tax officials. The accused accountant faces charges of extortion and bribery, unless his illegal activities are linked to the operation of the organisation. In that case, he will likely face the same procedural fate. As for the other four defendants, who are mentioned in the ELAS (Internal Affairs) press release, reports indicate that they face separate, individual misdemeanor charges that are not combined.

The beginning of the judicial proceedings is overshadowed by selective leaks of parts of the case file, which are capable of shaping public opinion. Defence attorneys believe that the content of the case file is so shocking that the impressions it creates far exceed those from the leaks. "No judge is influenced by leaks, which are directed at public opinion." It should be noted that the recordings of the disputed conversations in the case file exceed 600 pages! According to the same sources, the Prosecutor's Office has also expressed its displeasure over the leaks.

Since Monday afternoon, when they arrived in Corfu, a thorough review of the tax office (which remained closed to the public yesterday) has been underway, conducted by senior audit officials from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).

GIORGOS KATSAITIS