The socialist party PASOK-KINAL has suspended the party status of two of its members named in a gang that extorted money for “protection” from business owners in central Athens.
“Due to their alleged involvement in a criminal case that has become known, the Statute and Certification Ethics Committee has suspended the party status of two PASOK-KINAL members and informed them of this until the end of the criminal proceedings,” the party said in a statement.
As reported, two members of PASOK/KINAL are employees of the Ministry of Culture.
Minister Lina Mendoni has already announced that the two employees have been suspended pending the trial. A total of 14 people have been arrested for creating criminal organizationextorting money from business owners in the city centre in order to avoid administrative fines and inspections.
Among those arrested, in addition to the two people, are also nine civil servants and municipal police officers. The suspects face multiple charges, including creating a criminal organization, extortion and bribery.
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