A massive corruption scandal has rocked the Urban Planning Authority of Rhodes, as several individuals, including employees and a private architect, have been implicated in bribery schemes to issue illegal building permits and falsify documents. The investigation, which has uncovered widespread misconduct, is still ongoing, with multiple arrests and further suspects expected to testify.
The Case So Far
The scandal first came to light in June 2024 when the Hellenic Police Force Internal Affairs Directorate launched an investigation following complaints from local business owners and hoteliers. These entrepreneurs were allegedly unable to obtain building permits due to building restrictions or lack of legal compliance. They reportedly turned to an architect who coordinated with Urban Planning employees to issue fake permits using inactive files from previous years.
According to the evidence gathered, the fraudulent documents featured forged signatures, including that of a retired civil engineer who was allegedly suffering from dementia. The permits were modified with false details, including altered dates and forged engineer signatures. The illegal permits were sold for prices ranging from €20,000 to €50,000, depending on the complexity of the case.
Arrests and Legal Actions
According to local media, so far, eight individuals have been arrested, including the Deputy Director of the Urban Planning Authority, two department heads, two service employees, an architect, and a civil engineer. These individuals were charged with bribery and forging official documents. A total of 13 criminal charges have been filed in connection with the scandal, and all suspects have been referred to the investigating judge.
The investigation also named 21 more suspects, who are charged with bribing public officials but have not been arrested due to the nature of the offenses. These individuals are expected to testify in court.
One of the more notable developments in the case involved the head of the Urban Planning Authority. Although he was initially detained, it was determined that the charges against him did not involve a criminal organization or offenses punishable by immediate arrest, so he was released pending further investigation.
The Operation and Roles of the Suspects
The investigation revealed a highly organized scheme with clear roles for each participant:
- The private architect at the center of the operation acted as the coordinator, overseeing the illegal issuance of building permits and offering services like irregular adjustments to building fines and the regularization of illegal structures.
- The Deputy Director of the Urban Planning Authority and other employees collaborated with the architect to ensure that inactive permits were altered and reissued with new details and dates, allowing clients to bypass legal restrictions.
- One employee responsible for archiving at the Urban Planning Authority would grant the architect access to building files and make unauthorized changes, with payments of around €5,000 per modification.
The operation extended beyond just permits, with staff manipulating legal processes and employing complex coded language during communications. Terms like “lettuce” and “grease” were used to refer to money, while “the cousin” was code for the Deputy Director.
The Discovery of Evidence
During home searches of the suspects, investigators uncovered over 190 files from the Urban Planning Authority, official stamps, and service books, along with €613,000 in cash, some of which was even hidden in kitchen pots. Other assets seized included gold coins, designer handbags, and winning lottery tickets—potentially used to obscure the flow of illicit funds.
The Scale of the Corruption
The investigation paints a picture of widespread institutional corruption within the Urban Planning Authority of Rhodes. It’s clear that the accused individuals were involved in a well-organized scheme that exploited their official positions for personal gain. In exchange for bribes, they provided various illegal services, including:
- Issuing fake building permits for projects that would otherwise not meet zoning or regulatory requirements.
- Forging documents related to previously granted building permits, extending their validity or altering their content.
- Reducing penalties for violations and allowing unapproved constructions to continue without consequence.
The bribery rates varied depending on the nature of the services, with basic permit approvals fetching €1,000 to €2,000, while more complex and illegal permits could cost up to €100,000.
