Katerini: Director, employees and private engineers among those arrested – What is under investigation

Officers from the Hellenic Police Internal Affairs Service raided the Katerini Urban Planning Department on Monday morning (November 2), as an investigation by the Internal Affairs Service of the Security Forces is under way.

The investigation centres on complaints concerning alleged corruption involving the department.

According to ERT, the raid began at 7:00 a.m. at the Urban Planning Department offices, which are housed in the Town Hall building in the centre of Katerini. Police have so far made 11 arrests.

Among those arrested are the director of the Urban Planning Department, who was arrested early in the morning at his home, the head of the Building and Inspection Department, as well as three other employees of the same department. According to police, private engineers have also been arrested.

Possible involvement in a criminal network – What the authorities are investigating

According to the initial information, the investigation was preceded by a complaint concerning an alleged “facilitation payment” in connection with building permits and the legalisation of unauthorised constructions.

According to local media, the investigation by Internal Affairs officers appears to concern complaints and evidence relating to possible illegal financial transactions in exchange for the faster processing of urban-planning cases, as well as other possible unlawful acts.

The investigation into possible illegal activities within the Urban Planning Department is continuing.

Those arrested have been taken to the Katerini Police Directorate and are expected to appear before a prosecutor on Tuesday (November 3).

According to the information available so far, the Urban Planning Service will remain closed to the public until tomorrow.

Official announcements are expected from the Hellenic Police once the investigation has been completed.

Katerini Municipality’s statement on the arrests at the Urban Planning Department
“The Municipality of Katerini was informed that the competent authorities are conducting an investigation into cases handled by the Building Service. In order to facilitate the investigation, the municipal authority has instructed that every piece of information requested be made available,” the Municipality of Katerini said in a statement issued following the arrests.

The same statement added: “Transparency in urban-planning procedures is non-negotiable for us. The Building Service continues to serve citizens without interruption.”