The news in Greek
Στη Χαλκιδική διερευνάται ένα εγκληματικό δίκτυο με άτομα που εμπλέκονται σε δωροδοκίες και παράνομες άδειες. Συμμετέχουν αρχιτέκτονες, μηχανικοί και τοπογράφοι. Είκοσι ένας άνθρωποι συνελήφθησαν και δώδεκα εμφανίστηκαν στον ανακριτή . Οι κατηγορίες περιλαμβάνουν δωροδοκία και ξέπλυμα χρήματος. Κάποιοι αφέθηκαν ελεύθεροι με εγγύηση και με περιοριστικούς όρους.
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.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: Who are involved in the criminal network in Chalkidiki?
Architects, engineers, and surveyors are involved in the criminal network.
Question 2: How many people were arrested in the investigation?
Twenty-one people were arrested.
Exercise: Vocabulary
Read the full story
▌14/12/2024
The recent investigation into a criminal network centred around the Urban Planning Offices in Chalkidiki has unveiled a scandal involving illegal permits and bribery. This network reportedly involved architects, civil engineers, and surveyors who were allegedly engaged in illicit exchanges, often meeting in public spaces like shopping centres and cafes for their transactions.
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.
Chalkidiki Urban Planning Mafia Uncovered, Arrests Made (Illustration)
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.
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.
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