Tax evasion network in Thessaloniki: 1,283 suspects, €203 million damage
Dead people, homeless individuals and disabled persons used as nominal directors of companies in a tax evasion network being investigated in Thessaloniki with 1,283 suspects.
Dead and homeless people as 'straw men' in €203 million tax evasion network in Thessaloniki
Shell companies, 4,036 stolen Taxisnet codes and nominal directors including even deceased individuals: this is the picture revealed by the case file on the major tax evasion network being investigated in Thessaloniki, according to To Vima. The number of suspects reaches 1,283, while the estimated damage to the state exceeds €203 million.
Who appeared as directors
In company registers linked to the enterprise "Straw Men" there appeared as directors people living on allowances, homeless individuals, employees with very low salaries, persons with serious health problems and people who had already died. At the top of the structure, according to the authorities, were well-known businessmen from the catering, nightlife entertainment and real estate sectors, who remained outside official corporate structures, whilst benefiting from the profits.
Among the most revealing details of the case is the extent to which vulnerable people are alleged to have been used. So far, evidence has emerged concerning at least 12 people who are no longer alive, but continued to appear in corporate structures.
Characteristic cases
Characteristic is the case of a 59-year-old man who died in 2025. According to a relative of his who spoke to MEGA, the man appeared until just a few days ago as director in 22 companies with debts exceeding €2 million. In another case, a man who had passed away in 2023 participated as director and partner in 19 companies with debts of €14,816.44, whilst simultaneously appearing as an employee of a fruit trading company with a monthly salary of approximately €950.
A man with zero income appeared to participate in ten companies, which are alleged to have caused damage to the state amounting to €30,033,700.32. During the same period he worked part-time as a porter with a monthly salary of €454, whilst simultaneously working as a lorry driver with remuneration of €440 per month. Some of those used as cover persons appeared to direct at least 40 companies each.
The testimony of the disabled person and the Taxisnet codes
A person with 80% disability following a haemorrhagic stroke described the manner in which he lost control of his personal codes: "I am a person with 80% disability from a haemorrhagic stroke I had years ago, I had an acquaintance who was also an accountant, a neighbour, and I trusted him, he had the Taxisnet codes and set up some companies in my name, I didn't know about it".
This testimony describes the basic mechanism which, according to the investigation, the network used: the acquisition of access codes from people trusted by persons in their surroundings, so that they could subsequently be registered as owners or directors of businesses without their knowledge. In the entirety of the case, 4,036 Taxisnet codes have been identified that were exploited in this manner.
The Petilon case and the eight companies
Of particular interest is the case of Erricos Petilon, who appears as director of eight companies. On 1 March 2023 he was registered as director of these enterprises, which accumulated debts exceeding half a million euros. He himself appeared as "lacking property", whilst according to ERGANI records he worked as a reception employee with part-time employment and remuneration at the level of the minimum wage.
The structure of the network: one lawyer and three accountants
Behind the system of nominal directors there is alleged to have operated an organised structure with distinct roles. According to the case file evidence, the activity was not limited to the establishment of companies and the placement of straw men, but included the securing of access codes, the management of corporate structures and the channelling of money.
At the pyramid's core, a lawyer and three accountants are alleged to have played key roles, who according to the investigation contributed to the organisation and operation of the individual networks. In the first sub-network, a well-known Thessaloniki lawyer is alleged to have been in charge. The "packages" of straw men were supplied for €2,500 each.
Two businessmen sought — investigation into leak
Two businessmen being investigated for possible involvement continue to be sought by the authorities. Meanwhile, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AAΔE) has turned to the Justice system requesting the investigation of the leak of information about the operation, which occurred whilst the investigations were still ongoing — a fact for which the director of the AAΔE Giorgis Pitsilis submitted a criminal complaint.
Source: To Vima