The alleged leader and deputy leader of the criminal network involved in fake investment schemes at the casino were remanded in custody on Tuesday afternoon (18/11). The illegal investment activities network appears to be led by a rogue police officer from the Hellenic Police, with a well-known businessman as deputy leader, while four other individuals are allegedly involved: the leader’s partner, the deputy’s bodyguard, and a 46-year-old who was responsible for identifying potential victims.
All defendants reject the charges against them, claiming that what has been publicized in recent days does not reflect reality.
The alleged leader of the organization testified first, claiming he had struggled with gambling addiction for years and that those who gave him money for betting did so knowingly, taking the risk themselves. He categorically denies that he deceived them.
According to case file evidence, the rogue police officer met potential victims several times inside the Loutraki Casino, with these meetings allegedly organized by the network’s deputy leader.
Complaints increase about the “investors” network activities
All this comes as complaints to Live News about the criminal organization’s activities continue to multiply day by day. As one victim states, in his case in 2014, another person who has not yet been arrested played a key role.
Spyros Martikas alleges that he and his then-partner lost their life savings. As he reports, during one of the meetings with gang members at the Loutraki Casino, Vrisiida Andriotou was with him. The two allegedly lost a total of 720,000 euros.
“He was convinced and paid them, from May to June 2024, a total amount of 720,000.00 euros to ‘invest’ it the same way on his behalf. Subsequently, to maintain his illusion, they gradually returned to him 110,000.00 euros in cash as well as through the sale of gold bars and diamonds at two specific gold and precious stone trading establishments that they directed him to,” police sources say.
Spyros Martikas mentioned that he reached a breaking point when he realized the truth and managed to stand upright with help from his sister and Vrisiida Andriotou.
When he began pressuring to get his money back, he became the victim of what he describes as a staged robbery.
People who, as they say, believed and were convinced they would make money if they did what the defendants told them, are now taking stock of their financial ruin.
Criminal organization conversations
The decoded conversations are revealing:
“A… tell me the truth please. If I don’t get money on Monday I’ll disappear like a thief from the city where I live and moreover I recently signed checks… Please, enough is enough. I can’t take it anymore… At noon I was banging my head against the wall… I beg you, help me if you sympathized with me even a little,” a victim says to the alleged leader. Some pleaded with the leader and other members of the criminal organization to get their money back, but their efforts fell on deaf ears.
Victim: Having lost 400,000 euros and you being harsh with me because I’m pressuring is inconceivable. I never treated you like that, nor threatened you despite being ruined. OK, be well.
Leader: Hey I understand you’re my friend, I understand, I speak freely to them, I never said you’re being harsh with me, let me operate for a few days to get results, I’m with you, I’m the only one talking to you and you know it, I’ll fix everything.
As it appears, the leader sometimes made promises he didn’t keep and other times avoided his victims. “Are we being played? I’ve been calling you since noon and you tell me I’ll call you in a bit. You told me I’ll call you in two minutes in the previous call I made.” Trapped in a dead end, financially ruined and fearful of a series of obligations that continued to run:
Victim: What’s happening?
Leader: I’m waiting for them to tell me they made you a 5,000 transfer. When money comes in, they notify you on your mobile.
Victim: No, they don’t notify me.
Leader: Well they’ll call me, simply when they call me I’ll call you to go check.
Victim: I have nothing, but anyway you’ll call me and I’ll check on the computer, I can also check on the phone. These dialogues, along with a series of images and evidence from the police investigation, are already in the hands of Justice, with complaints continuing and causing sensation. New network dialogues In other conversations, recorded between the alleged leader and deputy leader of the network: – Deputy: So, I’ll go pick him up now. Then you’ll call me, I’ll have you on speaker.
Leader: I’m with someone, you tell me. – Deputy: Yes, I’m not alone I’ll say. You’ll tell me: Why didn’t you come? I’ll tell you: I’m not alone. You’ll tell me: What is it? Your friend? Yes he’s explained, he’s a good guy, I’ll say. Say: Come up, nothing happened. We’re leaders here, we do what we want.
Leader: Hey it doesn’t matter come up now, I’ll tell you. Are the money stolen?
Deputy: OK.
Leader: Done.
When the deputy has arrived with the new victim in Loutraki:
Deputy: Come on my brother
Leader: Good, why didn’t you come? You sent me (…) with the money and didn’t come?
Deputy: I’m not alone, I’m with company. I’m with the guy I told you about for the job.
Leader: So what will the guy eat us? Will he take our money? Come up, because I have the cash registers, to see you a bit and then we’ll go eat.
Deputy: OK so we should come up?
Leader: Bring the guy too, it doesn’t matter.
Deputy: Which suite should we come to?
Leader: To 370 buddy, where I keep the cash registers.
