All six defendants in Attica urban planning corruption ring remanded in custody after marathon testimonies

The marathon hearing

All six defendants in the Attica urban planning corruption case were remanded in custody on 9 June 2026, following a marathon hearing that lasted more than 13 hours before the corruption investigating magistrate and prosecutor at the Evelpidon courthouse. The group includes five public-sector employees from various building and planning services and one private engineer. The couple alleged to be the ringleaders — a high-ranking official at the Decentralized Administration of Attica and his wife, a secretary at the Municipality of Galatsi — were the last to testify. Both denied any wrongdoing, but the discovery of large sums of cash, including more than 180,000 euros in the wife's office alone, weighed heavily against them.

In no case did I ask for or receive money for any administrative act. My sole purpose and guiding principle was the correct and lawful issuance of each permit.

The charges

The defendants face a sweeping indictment that includes forming, joining and directing a criminal organization, bribery of a public official committed professionally and repeatedly, breach of duty, aggravated money laundering, and trading in influence. According to the case file, the network handled more than 25 instances of bribery or dereliction of duty. The alleged offences span issuing pre-approvals and irregular building permits, archiving complaints about the legality of demolitions in Petralona and the northern suburbs, securing a favourable opinion for an illegal construction on the seventh floor of an Athens hotel, and lifting stop-work orders on properties in Attica and on Mykonos.

How the network operated

The investigation by the Internal Affairs Service revealed that the accused were extremely cautious in their communications, arranging meetings in cars and parking lots. One private engineer is recorded telling a third party about a central defendant: "He takes his phone out of his pocket and shows it to me, like 'look, don't talk because they're listening' — he has this hang-up." The wife of the alleged ringleader is reported to have activated a second mobile device during the months-long investigation, registered under the details of a Chinese national residing in Nigrita, Serres — a person who likely does not exist.

Unfortunately, I serve in a position — namely in the municipality's urban planning department — where we are frequently exposed to all kinds of complaints. In reality, after mayors and regional governors, we are the ones who receive the most complaints and lawsuits.

The money trail

Authorities seized sums exceeding 330,000 euros in total. Of that, 188,000 euros was found in the office of the high-ranking official at the Building Service of the Municipality of Galatsi, who together with her husband — recently removed from his post at the Kifissia Urban Planning Office — are considered the directors of the criminal group. The largest single amount the network allegedly demanded was 30,000 euros, for a property in Kerameikos, to secure a favourable opinion during the permit review by the Central Athens Architectural Council and the mediation of an employee of the Service of Modern Monuments and Technical Works of Attica. Some of the defendants are also accused of laundering the proceeds through the purchase of artworks.

The defence

All six defendants denied the charges during their testimonies. The 51-year-old Kifissia Building Service employee claimed his conversations with the alleged ringleader were purely advisory, given the latter's far greater experience. The 57-year-old head of the Building Control Department in Kifissia stated that over his 32 years of service he has repeatedly been called to give explanations following complaints, and has been definitively cleared each time. He expressed surprise at facing such serious charges without, he said, any investigation into his financial circumstances. The 59-year-old head of the building permit issuance department in the Municipality of Amarousio stated that in her 25-year career she had never asked for or received any money or benefit.