Bogus health inspectors arrested in Trikala

A man and a woman, aged 56 and 48 respectively, were arrested Monday in Trikala, central Greece, accused of posing as health inspectors and extorting money from store owners.

According to police, the couple had conned three businesspeople – two in Naoussa and one in Trikala – since early June, saying they worked for the Hellenic Food Authority (EFET) and threatening the shopkeepers with fines unless they paid a cash bribe. The scam earned the pair a total of 1,080 euros. The investigation revealed that the man had also been on the run since a Thessaloniki court sentenced him to an eight-month prison term on manslaughter charges.

The two suspects were nabbed by police a few hours after trying to blackmail another store owner.