19 Power Company Officials To Face Justice Over Tax Collection Scandal

Nineteen officials of the "Energa" and "Hellas Power" companies facing criminal charges are expected to be tried at the Athens Three-Member Criminal Appeals Court, following a decision by the Supreme Court's (Areios Pagos) criminal section.

According to the state news agency, the Greek Supreme Court rejected a retraction appeal made by the a prosecuting authority against the ruling under which the 19 had been referred to trial.

The 19 - out of a total of 25 involved in the controversial case - were referred by the Appeals Court Judges Council to be tried for embezzlement against the state, smuggling and the legalisation of revenues coming from criminal activities (money laundering).

These companies, as electric power providers, collected the special tax for electric power consumption and the real estate duty (tax) on behalf of the Public Power Corporation, but did not hand over this money to the state, resulting in the creation of a loss estimated at 270 million euros.