Criminal prosecution for a series of felonies and misdemeanors has been filed against the four individuals arrested in the case of the kidnapping of a 24-year-old son of a businessman in Athens, among whom is the well-known rapper Ivan Greko.
The four kidnappers, who assaulted the young man and extorted money from him, were arrested by officers of the Organized Crime Directorate during coordinated operations at three different locations across the capital.
They are facing criminal charges for the following 11 offenses:
- Abduction in concert with intent to coerce the victim or others into actions, omissions, or tolerances to which they are not obliged,
- Robbery-related extortion in concert,
- Participation in a criminal organization,
- Dangerous bodily harm,
- Robbery,
- Forgery,
- Illegal possession of firecrackers,
- Illegal carrying of weapons,
- Use of weapons,
- Disobedience,
- Violence against public officials.
The accused requested and were granted time to prepare their depositions.
The Timeline of the Kidnapping
According to available information, in the early hours of May 6, in the area of Hymettus, three out of the five perpetrators used physical violence and a sharp object to strike the victim’s lower limbs and threatened the life of the businessman’s son, who is also involved in the family business.
During the incident, after transferring the victim into a vehicle, they demanded €25,000 and a BMW motorcycle worth at least the same amount. They repeatedly beat him with their hands and a sharp object all over his body.
Hours of Horror and His Escape
In Saronida, where the three attackers met the fourth member (who was on a motorcycle), the threats escalated, now involving the use of a firearm, on a beach in the area.
After five hours, the young man was forced to call his friends to gather the demanded amount. The ruthless perpetrators even attempted to cut off his fingers with a cutter, but failed due to his strong resistance.
Subsequently, the assailants drove with the victim toward Glyfada to collect part of the ransom. During the trip, the victim managed to escape and alerted a friend.
Continued Online Threats
By that time, the perpetrators had already stolen his car keys, a wireless charger, €740 in cash, and a luxury designer watch valued between €20,000–€29,000. The harassment continued in the following days through messages and videos sent via online apps.
On the evening of May 22, police teams deployed across various parts of Attica, located all the members of the criminal group, apprehended them, and brought them into custody.
The “Tiger Kidnapping” Method
A key aspect of this case is the use of violence or threats of violence as a means of punishment or coercion. The acts committed suggest a deliberate intent to intimidate or “discipline” the victim, reinforcing the organized and systematic nature of the crime.
The kidnapping of the 24-year-old bears the hallmarks of “tiger kidnapping”, a type of abduction where the victim is held under pressure and threat to comply with financial demands without raising suspicion or alerting authorities.
In such cases, police sources note, victims suffer intense physical and psychological abuse, with the goal of extracting money and assets.
In this incident, the perpetrators acted with organization and precision, assigning distinct roles and carrying out preparatory steps aimed at securing immediate financial gain. Their use of violence, threats, and even an attempt at mutilation, underlines their primary motive of illegal financial exploitation.
Police Statement
According to an announcement from the Organized Crime Division, a criminal organization was dismantled, whose members were involved in the kidnapping of a jewelry store/pawn shop owner in Attica using “tiger kidnapping” tactics, and in the extortion of a hair salon owner.
The investigation was conducted by the Extortion Unit of the Homicide and Property Crimes Division, whose officers organized a large-scale operation and arrested all four members of the group – aged 33, 25, 23, and 26 – in various areas of Attica on the morning of Friday, May 23, 2025.
They are charged, depending on their involvement, with kidnapping, extortion, robbery, dangerous bodily harm, and violations of weapons and explosives laws, committed as part of a criminal gang, along with violence against officials and judicial figures, violation of residency restrictions, violations of the law on flares and fireworks, and forgery.
It was determined that the defendants had formed a criminal organization and, operating in an organized and methodical manner with defined roles and preparatory actions, executed a kidnapping with the characteristics of “tiger kidnapping”.
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