Philippos Kamberis taken to Evelpidion on suspicion of million-euro insurance fraud – eight arrests
LAOS party president Philippos Kamberis was transferred in handcuffs to Evelpidion, shouting that he is innocent. A total of eight people were arrested in connection with an organised contribution evasion scheme involving 25 companies.
Kamberis in handcuffs at Evelpidion: "I am innocent – this is a setup"
In handcuffs and under police escort, LAOS party president and television presenter Philippos Kamberis departed early on Wednesday, 7 October from the General Police Directorate of Attica (GADA) heading to the courts at Evelpidion, where criminal charges were to be laid against him. As he left, he shouted to journalists that he is innocent and characterised the case as a setup against him, according to In.gr.
The other defendants were also transferred to the examining magistrate, among them his wife, who is said to have held a leadership role in the scheme.
Eight arrests, two more under investigation
In total, by the morning of Wednesday, eight people had been arrested, while two others remain under investigation. Among those arrested are two accountants, two individuals said to have been involved in the running of businesses, and two front men, aside from Kamberis and his wife.
Five years of operation, 25 shell companies
The scheme is said to have been operating since 2021. The police investigation, which lasted several months, identified at least 25 companies – advertising agencies, nightclubs, restaurants and clothing shops – that were set up using front men, accumulated insurance contribution debts without paying them, and were then closed down, causing damage of millions of euros to EFKA (the unified social insurance fund). Immediately afterwards, new companies would be opened and the process repeated.
The front men were recruited from among individuals facing financial difficulties, while the actual owners are said to have included people who participated in programmes presented by the defendant.
Invoices to LAOS and money laundering investigation
Concurrently, the authorities are examining the possibility that these companies issued invoices to the LAOS political party. As part of the same case, the Financial Crime Unit had already placed Kamberis and his wife under investigation due to suspicious transactions at a Greek bank.
According to reports, inspectors requested assistance from another European country, as the "money trails" appear to lead there, resulting in an investigation of the couple's transactions outside Greece as well. Tax violations identified through local tax authority inspections have also come under the scrutiny of the authorities.
Source: In.gr