The head of the forest ranger’s office in Markopoulo, eastern Attica, today faces a prosecutor on charges of accepting bribes after allegedly seeking 5,000 euros from a local resident as payment to secure a favorable verdict in a property dispute.

The unnamed official allegedly sought the fee when the woman visited his office to discuss charges being brought against her husband regarding the exploitation of forestland near the couple’s home in Porto Rafti. The woman agreed to make the payment but tipped off police, who gave her marked bills and arrested the official after the handover.

The official showed police the sum of 5,000 euros but denied the charges. He is suspected of involvement in other cases of accepting bribes, according to police, who said they were investigating other employees of the forest protection service in connection with similar charges.