File photo. [Shutterstock]
Five people, four of them minors, are being investigated by police in Volos, eastern mainland Greece, over the alleged extortion of €370,000 from a 13-year-old boy. A 34-year-old man was arrested on Thursday in connection with the case, authorities said.
According to police sources cited by state broadcaster ERT, the incident began a few days earlier when the 13-year-old obtained fireworks to celebrate his birthday. A peer allegedly persuaded him to hand over some of the fireworks, which subsequently came into the possession of the 34-year-old suspect.
The minor later reportedly told the victim that police had arrested the 34-year-old over the fireworks and claimed that the man intended to implicate the boy and his parents unless “compensated.”
Under this pressure, the 13-year-old was allegedly convinced to hand over a total of €370,000 in multiple payments between June 2 and June 14. The money was taken from cash kept at the family home, reportedly derived from the father’s business activities. The group allegedly claimed part of the funds would be used for the suspect’s legal defense.
