Halkidiki urban planning corruption scandal expands to Thessaloniki 

A corruption scandal currently under investigation, involving urban planning officials across Halkidiki in northern Greece, has expanded to second city Thessaloniki, where members of the corruption ring have also exerted influence.

According to latest findings of the investigation, urban planning officials in the Thessaloniki region allegedly facilitated illegal construction permits and administrative approvals, primarily for owners of catering and tourism businesses, in exchange for sums of up to €25,000. 

Authorities revealed officials used coded language such as "eggs" and "geese" to disguise bribes. 

In one typical case, an urban planning official, in collaboration with civil engineers from the private sector, extorted a large sum of money by promising to prevent the revocation of a hotel's license in Thessaloniki's city center as a result of building...