Six of the seven defendants from a racketeering gang operating in the southern suburbs of Athens have been sent to prison after they testified before an investigating judge. The seventh was released on probation.
Those arrested are said to have pleaded not guilty to charges of organizing a criminal community, extortion, aggravated assault, vandalism and assault, crimes that investigators say they committed for about a year.
Reportedly, the defendants do not admit that they blackmailed the shopkeepers, claiming that their actions were not related to forced “protection” (racketeering) but personal disputes.
The case file states that members of the gang “protected” commercial structures and carried out at least 10 attacks on shops in Ilioupolis, Argyroupolis, Alimos, Glyfada and other areas since September 2022. The judiciary has issued arrest warrants for three other people believed to be members of the gang.
Source: APE-MPA
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