NEWS

Myconos finances scrutinized

Seven people are due to be investigated after state auditors found that some 900,000 euros is missing from the municipal coffers on the Cycladic island of Myconos, sources said yesterday. An initial check of the municipal accounts was carried out at the end of last year after Mayor Athanasios Megas said that he suspected there had been some wrongdoing. «On our part, as soon as we realized that there was a problem, we took the necessary legal proceedings and the matter is in the hands of the justice system,» he said. «We believe that the matter will be cleared and that responsibility will be apportioned.» The state officials found that between 2002 and 2009 four businesses had been paying their municipal rates (2 percent of their turnover) regularly but that these funds never ended up in the municipality’s bank account. The total amount in question is 888,659 euros. The inspectors found numerous other accounting irregularities, including the failure to enter some data into the computerized system. They widened their checks to cover the municipality’s entire finances, especially as regards to what rates were paid by the numerous bars, restaurants and beach cafes on the popular holiday island. Sources said that inspectors have already found that information that would have confirmed which companies had obtained licenses to operate beach bars and to rent out sun loungers has disappeared from the municipality’s offices. The Court of Audit and state prosecutors have been informed of the officials’ findings so far and seven people (four municipal employees and three former deputy mayors) are due to be investigated.

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