Police sources on Tuesday claimed that the monthly “turnover” of a local newspaper publisher and two reporters charged with felonious extortion reached 500,000 euros a month.
The publisher of the low-circulation newspaper, aged 42, and the two journalists, 35 and 50, were arrested on Monday and charged with blackmailing executives of banks, utilities and other businesses.
An investigation began after a female executive’s report to police last May. She charged that the defendants even threatened to harm her family.
Greece’s intelligence service, EYP, reportedly eavesdropped on cell phone discussions between the suspects and the alleged victims.