Ex-editor among those arrested over alleged debts to the state
Former newspaper editor and TV presenter Serafim Fyntanidis is due to appear at the Athens first instance prosecutor?s office on Wednesday to respond to charges of not paying his value-added tax bill.
The 75-year-old journalist, who edited the Eleftherotypia newspaper for more than 30 years, was arrested on Tuesday after misdemeanor charges were filed against him.
A media company owned by Fyntanidis, who recently hosted a show on state-run NET TV, is alleged to owe 55,000 euros in VAT. As a result of penalties and interest, this amount has risen to almost 136,000 euros.
Fyntanidis was one of five people arrested on Tuesday for owing money to the state.
The 46-year-old owner of a firm making beauty products was arrested in Thessaloniki for debts of 1.1 million euros. The 50-year-old owner of a printing firm was arrested in Athens for owing 741,000 euros. Two brothers, aged 74 and 77, who co-own a clothing company, were arrested for outstanding taxes of almost 180,000 euros each.
