Freezing of accounts, stocks and real estate for 121 fraudsters

The Finance ministry proceeded to freeze the bank accounts, stocks and real estate of 121 individuals and companies involved in tax evasion cases.

These are inspections carried out by the Financial Crime Unit in the last months and concerning financial action from previous years, where they found large-scale tax evasion, either through dummy invoices or not issuing receipts or paying VAT tax.

In the bank accounts that were opened, officials found tens of millions of euros and foreign currencies, which were seized in favor of the State, while awaiting for the opening of other accounts related to the same cases.

Luxurious real estate, shares in the Athens and New York stock markets and investments in insurance were seized as products of tax evasion.

"The tolerance for tax evaders, as high up as they might be, is over. The Financial Crime Unit has received specific orders to freeze the assets of those who cheat the state and ultimately the citizens themselves, who are suffering from an unprecedented crisis. It is inconceivable that simple wage earners and retirees have to lift the fiscal adjustment burden because others avoid paying their taxes," Finance minister Yannis Stournaras said.