Greek police bust huge extortion racket

Greek police bust huge extortion racket

2011-04-01 00:35:14 GMT+7 (ICT)

ATHENS (BNO NEWS) -- Greek police announced on Thursday that they have broken up four criminal rings that included police officers after months of investigations, the Kathimerini newspaper reported.

The criminal rings are believed to be behind the systematic extortion of dozens of businesses in Athens as well as a robberies and attempted bomb attacks. A total of 217 people have been charged, 44 arrest warrants have been issued and 22 people have been brought in for questioning.

The suspects include a well-known female singer, seven police officers and several civil servants including employees of the country's central bank. They face a string of charges including extortion, money laundering, theft, fraud, forgery, and the possession and supply of weapons and explosives.

After several months of investigations, police determined that the rings exacted "protection money" from a total of 268 nightclubs and other businesses in the capital.

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