Philippos Kamburis: arrest for €5 million fraud involving 25 fictitious companies
Presenter Philippos Kamburis and his wife have been arrested as part of an investigation into fraud against e-EFKA and the state.
Employee received €600 — tax authorities showed €19,500
The complaint that brought the case to light began with a simple application for social benefits. When the client of lawyer Virginia Xanthopoulou went to submit her tax declaration for 2023, she discovered she was not eligible for benefits — because the system showed income of €19,500 that she had never received.
"Although she was receiving €600, they declared €19,500 in income to the tax authorities and my client was unable to receive social benefits," Ms Xanthopoulou stated to Newsit.gr.
The woman had begun working for presenter and businessman Philippos Kamburis in February 2021, without a signed contract. She was responsible for updating a political website and later worked as an associate editor on his broadcast. The agreed fee was €600 net, below the minimum wage, without bonuses or allowances.
"This was of enormous importance to my client, because in reality with €600 she could not support herself. She is divorced with two minor children and during a period when her ex-husband was unable to pay her maintenance," the lawyer stated.
Three unknown companies, one straw man
Examining the "certificates of employment" section in the tax declaration, Ms Xanthopoulou identified three companies that her client was completely unaware of. "Three companies unknown to my client, with the same legal representative, a straw man, which had arbitrarily declared €19,500 to her," she described.
In e-banking, the deposits of €600 appeared with a code in Latin letters — "POI" and a number — without clear reference to the depositor. Only by opening each entry separately was it revealed that the money was deposited by three different companies: two with the same straw man as legal representative and one with his wife.
In fact, one of the "ghost" companies had its registered address at the same location as the offices of Kamburis's political party, on Ifaistias Street.
"None of the companies were found at their registered address. They were ghost companies," the lawyer testified, who subsequently sent a formal notice to all six companies and to Kamburis before proceeding to report the matter to the authorities.
Network of 25 companies and damage exceeding €5 million
The subsequent investigation revealed, according to Newsit.gr, a much wider-ranging scheme. At least 25 companies are reported to have been created from 2021 in the names of straw men and subsequently closed, leaving debts to e-EFKA and the state.
The scheme also used "rented" employees: they were formally insured at the companies, but the corresponding insurance contributions were not paid. The damage attributed to e-EFKA exceeds €1.5 million, whilst the total estimated damage to the state exceeds €5 million.
Eight arrests — including Kamburis and his wife
As part of an operation by the Economic Crime Investigation Directorate in Attica, a total of eight people were arrested. Among them were Philippos Kamburis and his wife, as well as accountants, businessmen and individuals reported to have acted as straw men in the companies of the network.
Investigations are ongoing. The authorities are examining all the companies, financial flows and persons reported to be connected with the case.
Source: Newsit.gr