Nearly two dozen individuals, including a former mayor, civil engineers and surveyors, were arrested in a massive anti-corruption operation this week centered on two building permit/ planning offices in northern Greece.
Annual global corruption and transparency surveys – World Bank, OECD etc. – have repeatedly and successively pointed to problems in Greece’s building permit processes and state-run planning and building offices (poleodomia).
Specifically, the arrests include six tenured employees of such offices, two people related to some of the employees and 13 other individuals. The two planning offices in question were tentatively identified as being in Sithonia and Nea Propontida, both in Halkidiki prefecture, northern Greece’s pre-eminent tourism and vacation region.
According to reports, alleged members of the ring demanded bribes of between 250 euros 1,000 euros for speeding up various bureaucratic actions – or even to avoid proverbial Greek public sector “foot-dragging”. The “rate” for approval otherwise illegal constructions and actions, “skewed” land surveys and other actions commenced at 1,000 euros and reached up to 20,000 euros.
Other media reports on Tuesday noted that an investigation by Greek Police’s (EL.AS) internal affairs division began last May. Although several instances of wrongdoing have allegedly been uncovered, authorities estimate that the scheme extends years back.
The same reports have authorities confiscating more than one million euros in cash, of which some 600,000 euros was held by the building / planning office employees.
