New evidence continues to emerge in the Pizza Fan case, centered on an alleged criminal organization accused of concealing millions of euros in VAT from the Greek state. Adding another piece to the puzzle, footage has now surfaced showing findings from authorities’ search of the alleged “second-in-command’s” home — where cash was found stored in branded Pizza Fan paper bags bearing the company’s logo.
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Pizza Fan: The special software that allowed orders to be completed without issuing receipts — The “freebies”
According to the Greek Police (ELAS), the organization allegedly used specialized software that allowed stores in the franchise network to complete customer orders without issuing the legally required receipts.
More specifically, customer orders were logged in the central order management system and forwarded to individual stores for fulfillment. Upon completing an order, the system offered employees the option to issue a receipt for cash or card payment, or to cancel the order entirely.
However, for certain orders selected through a special algorithm, an additional function labeled “treat” (κέρασμα) would appear, enabling the transaction to be completed without generating a corresponding tax receipt.
At the same time, orders for which no receipt was issued continued to be recorded in the central system, allowing organization members to monitor the stores’ actual revenues and calculate the amounts being concealed from tax authorities.
In this way, according to the investigation, a portion of the true turnover of the stores involved was hidden, resulting in the non-payment of the corresponding taxes.
Furthermore, senior members of the organization ensured that the illicit proceeds were converted to cash, transported under carefully arranged security measures, and distributed during monthly meetings held in a specific room at a shopping center. These gatherings also served as briefings where the network’s financial performance — including its illegal activities — was reviewed and monitored.
The explosive wiretapped conversations
Particularly striking are the recorded phone conversations included in the investigation’s evidence file in the Pizza Fan case. These intercepts reveal how the so-called “freebies” were discussed and tracked across the chain’s store network.
At the center of these conversations is the chain’s owner, Konstantinos Antaras, who is heard speaking with associates about the stores’ financial margins, VAT payments, and information he claims was passed on to the company by individuals with whom he maintained close ties inside Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).
Pizza Fan: “We have people at the tax authority” — References to complaints and upcoming audits
Perhaps the most serious of the intercepted conversations involves information that Konstantinos Antaras claims reached the company regarding two formal complaints filed with the AADE. The chain’s owner refers to individuals with whom he says there is a “very good relationship,” who allegedly informed the company about the content of the complaints and about tax audits scheduled to begin in September, with a particular focus on take-away orders.
The conversation also references the fact that the complaints had been formally logged in the system, and includes the claim that the identity of the person behind them was already known.
The key intercepted exchange
Antaras: He filed two complaints with the tax authority and we were informed — not in a, you know, we have, we have people there, the relationship is good, very good, and they told us that this and that, they said look, we’re going to go and take a little look at your take-away, check out your take-away numbers because your numbers don’t add up, and they were also saying you’re stealing — I mean they were saying it, the people didn’t say it in the sense of “we’re your friends and we want to protect you,” no — in the sense that you’re an idiot, meaning with the numbers you’ve got you’re stealing on top of it, you guys are so bold, you know what I mean?
Associate: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Antaras: They said, just so you know, from September — right now we can’t get to it because of the islands — we’re going to do some audits on the take-away side, we’ll come do a sweep, they told us that straight up, that from September they’re going to do a sweep, to, to check your stores on the take-away side let’s say, well one, one audit per store, one audit across ten stores they’ll do, since this complaint has been formally logged — but they also knew who was behind it, even though he hid behind someone else, he used another person.
Associate: Oh, so he didn’t go himself personally to make it obvious it came from him.
Antaras: No, are you crazy.
Associate: He’s such an idiot, sorry.
Antaras: You understand, but these guys, they open wiretaps and they play hardball — because you see what they’re saying, don’t play games with me, moron, you’re putting the entire state apparatus after someone just so you can play your little games.
Associate: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
The critical question arising from this conversation is whether there was indeed a tip-off from individuals within the tax administration, or whether these are simply claims made by the businessman to an associate. Based on the content of the conversation alone, the origin of the information cannot be verified.
“Delete the email” — Tracking available amounts per store
In another lengthy conversation, Konstantinos Antaras requests a detailed breakdown of the “freebie” margins available across the chain’s stores.
The discussion includes specific percentages and monetary amounts for stores in various parts of the country. Among the figures mentioned are available margins of €16,500 for Kallithea, €13,700 for Salamina, and €10,500 for Larissa.
Particularly significant is the final part of the conversation. When Antaras learns that the relevant spreadsheet had been sent via email for printing, he reacts with alarm and instructs that the message be deleted.
Key excerpt from the conversation:
Associate: Great, Salamina.
Antaras: Salamina.
Associate: It’s running at eight point two percent.
Antaras: Yeah.
Associate: And it has another eleven percent available from take-away.
Antaras: Another eleven percent, let’s say.
Associate: Great.
Antaras: Which is a big number for him because it’s above—
Associate: It’s thirteen, I’ve put the value next to it as well if you look.
Antaras: How much is it, how much?
Associate: The eleven percent is another thirteen thousand seven hundred that could be had.
Antaras: Thirteen thousand seven hundred — alright then, get a hold of K… The other one, Kallithea, how much is it, what’s its turnover?
Associate: Kallithea has sixteen and a half thousand available.
Antaras: Sixteen and a half thousand — man, that’s a lot of money, mate.
Associate: Yeah.
At another point, the conversation turns to Larissa:
Associate: Larissa now — he’s at one point two percent.
Antaras: Has he only done one point two, or has he kept it at one point two?
Associate: He’s only done one point two.
Antaras: Yeah.
Associate: And he has ten thousand five hundred available, which is another seven point eighty-two.
Antaras: Ten thousand five hundred. He’s going to drive us crazy now, I’m telling you — it’s a joke, I mean if I tell you he’s messing around, you’ll see, you’ll see.
The conversation concludes with the handling of the financial data spreadsheet.
Antaras: Alright, can you come and give it to Ilias?
Associate: Yeah of course, I’ll forward it to him right now on the spot.
Antaras: Yeah.
Associate: Or Aliki has probably already printed the document by now.
Antaras: Oh great.
Antaras: The printout hasn’t come here though.
Associate: No, no, I sent it to her email so she could print it.
Antaras: Ah, you sent it to her email — that was a mistake.
Associate: We’ll pull it back either way.
Antaras: This, this, this must never happen again.
Antaras: Right, delete it — tell her to delete the email.
Associate: Yeah, yeah, I’ll pull it from the server too either way.
Antaras: Don’t do that.
Associate: Er, yeah.
Antaras: I thought you could print it yourself from there.
“When the freebies were higher” — The link to VAT payments
In a third intercepted conversation, Konstantinos Antaras directly asks an associate whether their store is paying VAT.
The associate states that they began paying normally once the “freebies” decreased, and that they are waiting to see what happens when they increase again in the coming quarter.
Associate: Hello, boss.
Antaras: Hey, are you paying VAT at your store?
Associate: Yes. I’ve been paying normally for two, three months — three quarters now — it’s working out.
Antaras: So when weren’t you paying?
Associate: When the freebies were higher — when they started going down, the
