Two of the most prominent luxury restaurants along Athens’ southern coastal suburbs — known for hosting high-profile social events — are named in a sprawling criminal investigation into a nationwide electricity theft network. The probe, led by Greek judicial and investigative authorities, uncovered an organized scheme that allegedly siphoned €9.16 million in unpaid electricity charges across Greece.
A Surprising Inclusion: A Religious NGO
Beyond businesses and private individuals, the case includes an unexpected entity: a registered non-profit organization focused on religious education and missionary work — described in official documents as a ‘sacred’ NGO. Its involvement has drawn particular attention given its stated mission and public profile.
Scale and Scope of the Operation
So far, five people have been arrested — three of them identified as core members of the criminal group. The formal indictment lists a total of 101 natural and legal persons under investigation. Authorities have documented 105 criminal acts, including 103 confirmed cases of electricity theft and two instances of fraud involving illegal manipulation of metered energy output.
Investigators identified 606 unauthorized interventions on electricity meters — affecting 103 separate supply points — resulting in total financial damage of €9,163,354. The illicit profit accrued by the group is estimated at over €371,000.
How the Network Operated
According to court filings, the investigation spanned several months and involved close coordination with the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DEDDHE). It revealed that, since at least 2017, the three main suspects had formed a structured, ongoing criminal enterprise.
The group carried out illegal modifications — both on analog and digital electricity meters — across numerous regions of Greece. Clients — including businesses and private users — reportedly commissioned these interventions to artificially lower their recorded consumption. The modifications ranged from wiring bridges and circuit diversions to tampering with internal meter components like coils.
The operation employed tailored methods depending on meter type, reflecting a high degree of technical knowledge and systematic planning. While the primary beneficiaries were the paying clients, the group itself profited directly through service fees — turning electricity theft into a repeatable, commercialized crime.