In cooperation with a victim of blackmail, Greek police arrested one of the deputy mayors of Chaidari suburb in Western Athens. Marios Liakopoulos,45, is to face charges on blackmail and bribes.
According to Greek media, Liakopoulos was in charge of ‘operating licences’ for canteens, shops and other businesses and that at least one canteen owner sought the police help, when the deputy mayor asked money to facilitate the business operation.
The investigation of the case was initiated following a complaint by canteen owner, whereby the mayor asked from him 1,000 euros and additional 1,000-1,200 euros for two months in order to ensure the license to operate.
The elected deputy mayor, who is a philology teacher , was among others responsible for the financial issues of the municipality and also for operation licenses for canteens, shops and other businesses.
When the victim sought the aid of the police, the money the canteen owner handed out to the deputy mayor was ‘marked’. The amount of ‘registered money’ was found during the deputy mayor’s arrest.
Citing police sources, an Zougla.gr notes that the deputy mayor had also tried to extort 5,000 euro from another canteen owner whose license had expired last January. When the man denied the ‘offer’, the deputy would send every day the municipality police to check the canteen. Zougla.gr notes also that Liakopoulos was a member of Samaras’ Nea Dimocratia.
