Four guilty in Thessaloniki extortion trial

Businessman Markos Karaberis (photo) was one of four people found guilty on Friday in connection to an extortion ring in Thessaloniki, where the court also acquitted nine suspects.

Karaberis, 60, was found guilty of usury and specific cases of blackmail but was cleared of forming and leading a criminal gang. He was given an 11.5-year jail sentence but was bailed pending his appeal and ordered not to leave the country.

The businessman’s secretary, an associate and a journalist were found guilty of being accomplices. All the other suspects, including the former head of the local branch of the financial crimes squad (SDOE), were cleared. However, the court decided that the latter should be investigated by local prosecutors on suspicion of breach of duty.