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Greece’s new hobby: chasing & arresting grannies for debts to the state
The Greek Finance Ministry has a new hobby: to chase grannies for debts to the state or the insurance funds. Just days after police arrested a 90-year-old Alzheimer’s patient for a debt to the tax office in Athens, another granny, 79, found herself in the detention cell in Chalkida, in Evoia.
The granny was recovering from a bypass operation, when she lost her identity card. When she went to local police station to issue a new ID, she was detained for owing to insurance fund 900 euro. The old debt had increased from 900 euro to 5,000 euro apparently due to interests and fines. According to Troika-imposed laws, debtors owing more than 5,000 euro must be arrested and go to court.
“There was a trial in absentia 12 years ago and the woman was charged to 10-months imprisonment,” her daughter told private Skai TV on Wednesday morning.
The elderly woman claimed that she did not know about the debt.
The debtor had undergone a triplex bypass operation two weeks before the incident on Tuesday afternoon. The daughter had request the release of her mother in order to apply the needed treatment to the operation scarf, but the police replied that this was not possible and that it was up to the prosecutor to decide.
Speaking to mega TV the debtor said that the policemen showed a good behavior but she complained about the authorities.
“I knew nothing about the debt. I have been doing my income declaration every year, I receive my pension normally. They could, they had the chance to inform me about the debt, didn’t they?” the fragile elderly said in a weak voice.
She spent the night in an office of the police station.
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The elderly and her daughter wondered why she was never informed about the debt despite the fact that her data was known to authorities.
The elderly was expecting to be temporary released on prosecutor’s order. According to the law she has to appear before the court within 48 hours.
PS things are going to be worse: as of middle of march, tax offices will automatically seize money form bank accounts due to debts to the state. Without previous warning to the debtor, so that he/she will not withdraw deposits.
Here in Greece we have torn apart the Constitution long time ago…
Read also: Police arrests Alzheimer’s patient, 90, for owing 5,000 euro to the state
Source: http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2014/03/05/greeces-new-hobby-chasing-arresting-grannies-for-debts-to-the-state/
