The Urban Planning Rhodes case is developing into one of the biggest corruption scandals of the last decade in the country. Revelations by the Internal Affairs Service of the Hellenic Police led to charges for at least 34 different cases of illegal activities, involving employees of the Building Service, engineers and private businessmen as main protagonists. The case is now entering a new phase, as a three-member team of the “Incorruptibles” visited the island, gathered new evidence and departed on Friday, leaving open questions and expectations for further revelations.
The three police officers came to Rhodes to investigate anew aspects of the scandal that have not yet been clarified. The second investigation focuses mainly on pending case files for health establishments on the coastal front and on new evidence submitted by a retired officer, who had already highlighted problems in the operation of Urban Planning since 2023. The mission, which was completed with the departure of the team, shows the service’s determination to re-examine past omissions and cross-reference the new data with the existing material of the basic case file.
Rhodes urban planning scandal: The seven main defendants and 21 testimonies to follow
At the center of the scandal are seven individuals, five employees of Rhodes Urban Planning and two private engineers. These are executives who held key positions: department heads, employees with a decisive role in license management and private individuals who, according to authorities, operated as intermediary links.
In parallel, 21 more individuals – contractors, hoteliers, technicians and private citizens – are expected to testify, as they are alleged to have collaborated individually or collectively in bribery, false certifications and cover-up of illegal activities.
The organized corruption model
The case file outlines a structured network with clear hierarchy and roles. The employees, case by case, accepted applications outside deadlines, processed files without complete documentation, granted pre-approvals with false information and delivered documents in exchange for monetary or other compensation.
This model appears to have become established over the years, creating a regime of “parallel administration” where legal procedures were systematically bypassed.
The 34 revealing cases
The acts included in the case file demonstrate the extent of corruption. Among them:
• Pre-approval of building permit with empty file, following intervention in the Architectural Council.
• Bribery of 5,000 euros for issuing a permit on non-buildable land.
• Bypassing time limits for building terms certification.
• Modification of recommendation to urban planning council with financial compensation.
• Providing hotel accommodation in exchange for expediting procedures.
• Issuing permit on non-buildable agricultural plot for 6,000 euros.
• Bribery of 10,000 euros for permit revision with false date.
• Fine cancellation in exchange for 30,000 euros.
• Hotel license renewal for 5,000 euros.
• Document falsification with former employee’s details.
• Processing applications with partial payment of amounts.
• Illegal agreements to cover up unauthorized constructions.
• File delivery in exchange for 100 to 150 euros.
• Issuing fake hotel license for 5,000 euros.
• 25,000 euro agreement to maintain unauthorized constructions.
• Forgery and fake license issuance for 20,000 euros.
The above are indicative of the 34 cases that have been documented, outlining continuous and multifaceted illegal activity.
The retired officer’s complaints and delays
The contribution of the retired officer, who had already reported irregularities since 2023, constitutes a crucial element. His testimony brings to the forefront not only the method of operation but also possible delays in investigating the case.
According to published documents and reporting, the retired Police Lieutenant General had submitted a named report on June 29, 2023, describing persons and methods. The central trigger was a case of a well-known department store in Rhodes center and the process of licensing/inspections, which he considered problematic. The report was forwarded to competent services of the Hellenic Police and Justice, however, as he claims, no corresponding investigation pace followed. The retired Lieutenant General claims that since February 2023 he was warning about pending inspection ahead of the department store’s opening, while subsequently he reported extensive unauthorized activities.
He mentions that an expert examination ordered by the Prosecutor’s Office revealed serious issues, from small-scale license violations to unauthorized interventions.
On November 3, 2024, the retired officer filed a criminal complaint against two persons of the building service.
Four common persons have been recorded between the case file generated from the retired officer’s complaints and the subsequent major case.
What’s at stake
The Rhodes Urban Planning scandal concerns not only its protagonists but also the overall credibility of public administration. The existence of such a well-organized network, which appears to have operated for years, demonstrates control weaknesses and responsibilities of those who tolerated or covered up these practices. The question that remains to be answered is whether the full revelation of the case will lead to purification or if it will be limited to individual responsibilities, leaving the system intact.
