The owner of the Horiatiko bakery chain, who is accused of heading an alleged €100 million tax fraud scheme and other offenses, was ordered remanded in pre-trial custody Thursday.

The suspect, Angelos Giannakopoulos, has been charged with membership of a criminal organisation, tax evasion, fraud, breaching previous court-imposed conditions and forgery.

Testifying before an investigating judge, he denied wrongdoing and asked to be set free pending trial or to be placed under house arrest.

A total 59 people have been charged in the same case with offenses including belonging to a criminal organization, fraud committed against the state, tax evasion, complicity in tax evasion, forgery and money laundering. Several of the suspects have also been charged with sex-trafficking, robbery, fraud and non-payment of social security contributions.

On Thursday, six of the suspects were ordered remanded in pre-trial custody and ten were freed on bail.

Apart from the bakery chain, the alleged ringleader is believed to have owned several nightclubs and restaurants in Athens’ southern suburbs, as well as on the party islands of Mykonos, Rhodes and Zakynthos.

Source: Ekathimerini.com