The former president of the Notary Association in Thessaloniki was found dead in the sea off Epanomi in Northern Greece on Tuesday. Ioanna Hrousala-Bilisi had faced charges for embezzling 500,000 euros from property auctions.
The body of the 71-year-old was found by locals who called the authorities. The body was transferred to a hospital in Thessaloniki where an autopsy will determine the exact causes of her death.
According to media, there are strong indications including a handwritten note that the woman had committed suicide. In the note she reportedly apologized to her two children for some inheritance issues.
Last November, the notary was in the middle of a scandal with a prosecutor to have raised charges form embezzlement of half a million euros from auctions.
The case involved ten auctions of real estate belonging to natural persons and legal entities made in 2015. The money coming from the auctions should have been deposited within three days at the Deposits and Loans Fund. The case was revealed when taxpayers were unable to receive a tax clearance due as it appeared they still owned money to the state. The department for the taxation of Commercial Corporation had made a complaint.
The notary had reassured that she had given the money she ought to to the Fund. She resigned forom the post of the president of Notary association a month later.
May she rest in peace. I knew her, went to her and her daughters a couple of times. Unbelievable.