The alleged sale of 15,000 acres of land around famous “Navagio” beach on Zakynthos island in the Ionian Sea is characterized as a fraud of massive proportions.
Greek newspaper “Ethnos” published information proving that the case was a fraud. The alleged deal mentioned areas that cannot be sold since they include forest land, streams and roads and are held without title deeds, at prices well below the actual property value.
According to the article, the case is going to be examined by the judicial authorities since the newspaper implies that politicians, Forest Service officials, the state mortgage company, tax inspectors and notaries are allegedly involved in the sale, the cost of which is estimated at 9 million euros. According to the sale contract, dated May 7, 2014, the actual value of the land was estimated at 17.2 million euros. The potential buyer, the Emir of Qatar, through his company Pimana, would get a coastal area of unique beauty, which includes the Navagio beach, for 600 euros per hectare although its actual value is estimated at around 1,100 euros per hectare.
Furthermore, the article says that the sale contract should be void, since the property does not belong to the alleged owner, George Charos, as he does not hold any legal deeds to this property, while part of the property belongs to the Church of Greece.
Charos is a heir of the Flampouriaris family, which owned the land with a Venetian decree just before the Venetians lost sovereignity of the Ionian islands in the late 18th century. However, as lawyer Dionysis Gouskos stated, “there are no titles of ownership, except from a Venetian decree, but ownership cannot be justified by decrees. This decree must be translated by the Foreign Ministry, as it uses an unknown Venetian dialect and it does not clearly state the property boundaries or the owners’ names.”
The case is even more complicated as a trial for arson is still pending against the alleged owner and seller, Charos.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
