A coordinated police operation was carried out by the Financial Police and Cybercrime Prosecution Service to identify stores where illegal gambling is being conducted
Three (3) stores were inspected in the Menidi area, where two were conducting illegal gambling and the third was deprived of a store operating license.
Simultaneously, violations of labor, tax, and health legislation were found
A total of six (6) people were arrested, including the three owners, a store manager, an employee and a player in illegal games, while a lawsuit was filed against another employee
(13) computers and the sum of (1,431) euros were seized
An organized police operation was carried out yesterday afternoon (12.09.2013) in the area of Acharnes (Menidi), by the Financial Police and Electronic Crime Prosecution Service, to control violations related to the conduct of illegal gambling, as well as with tax, labor and health legislation.
In the context of the inspections, with the assistance of police officers from the DIAS team, a large number of violations were found in three (3) health-related establishments, for which, among other things, six (6) Greek citizens, four men and two women, were arrested, who are accused, on a case-by-case basis, of violating the legislation concerning gambling, deprivation of a store's operating license, uninsured work and other violations of tax, labor and health legislation.
In more detail:
1. In a shop-cafe, a 39-year-old Greek national, the owner of the shop, and a 23-year-old Greek female employee were arrested, charged, as the case may be, with violating the gambling legislation, the health legislation, as well as with depriving the employee of a health certificate and work permit.
Additionally, violations of labor and tax legislation were identified, specifically:
- non-issuance of supporting documents
- failure to display a repair and maintenance booklet for the tax cash register.
- no payment of the legal fee for the installation – placement of four (4) specially modified tables for conducting games with playing cards.
- no presentation of the Special Register of Newly Hired Staff (E.V.K.N.P.)
During the search of the store, five (5) complete computers (monitor - main unit - keyboard - mouse) and the amount of (345) euros were found and seized.
2. In a coffee-ouzo shop, a 54-year-old Greek national, owner of the shop, a 35-year-old Greek national, manager of the shop, and a 52-year-old Greek national, a player who participated in the illegal games, were arrested, charged, as appropriate, with violating the Gaming Law, deprivation of a health certificate and work permit from the competent authority.
Additionally, violations of labor and tax legislation were identified, specifically:
- failure to display a repair and maintenance booklet for the tax cash register.
- non-payment of the legal fee for the installation - placement of six (6) specially adapted tables for playing card games.
- no presentation of the Special Register of Newly Hired Staff (E.V.K.N.P.)
Eight (8) complete computers and the amount of (1,086.5) euros were found and seized in the store.
3. In an internetcafe ,the21-year-old Greek owner was arrested, while a lawsuit was filed against a 22-year-old Greek employee of the store, for, as the case may be, deprivation of the store's operating license, health certificate and work permit by the competent authority.
All those arrested, with the charges filed against them, are being brought before the Athens Criminal Court Prosecutor today.
The seized amounts of money will be sent to the Deposits and Loans Fund, while the seized items will be delivered to the Customs Procedures Directorate (formerly the Customs and Excise Department) for safekeeping. In addition, relevant reports were prepared for the tax violations and will be submitted to the competent Tax Office and Social Security Administration.
It is reminded that, under Law 4002/2011, which regulates the “purchase of games” and came into force on 22 August 2011, a penalty of imprisonment of at least ten years is provided for anyone who conducts gambling games without a license. When the games are technically a imprisonment of at least three years is provided and a monetary penalty of 100,000 to 200,000 euros per gaming machine. Finally, anyone who participates in a gambling game organized without a license is punished with a prison sentence of up to three months and a monetary penalty of 5,000 to 20,000 euros.
