Rhodes rocked by counterfeit permits scandal

An internal police investigation launched in June 2024 revealed that employees of the Rhodes urban planning office accepted bribes worth thousands of euros to approve permits for hotel owners and major investors who did not meet legal requirements.

According to the case file, officials altered old, inactive permits by changing details, adding fake engineer approvals, and stamping them with outdated seals.

Many of these forged documents were linked to a retired engineer suffering from dementia. “At least 40 to 50 permits were issued this way,” the complaint alleged.

Following months of surveillance, police arrested seven suspects on March 19, including five urban planning employees, a private architect, and a civil engineer.

Officers seized €387,100 in cash from a suspect’s home.

Investigators identified a key architect who allegedly recruited public officials into the scheme. Officials from various departments – including permit issuance, construction inspections, and archives – were involved. Documents indicate the architect accessed official permit records from 1975 and 1993 to find suitable cases for forgery.

The bribes ranged from €5,000 to €30,000, with one case involving a €20,000 payment to accelerate permit approval.

Officials allegedly altered online applications to bypass legal barriers.

This case follows a similar corruption scandal in Halkidiki in December, when 21 people, including municipal officials and architects, were arrested for falsifying permits and taking bribes.

Investigators estimate that scheme generated at least €200,000 in illicit profits.

Authorities continue to investigate both cases as part of a broader crackdown on corruption in Greece’s urban planning system. 

Kathimerini