Pictures: www.iefimerida.gr
How is it possible that noone has even taken a single picture with a mobile phone of the women, who appeared in "Varvakios Agora" market both at Christmas and on Holy Wednesday and spent 50,000 euro on meat which they distributed to the poor. Suspicions are so many that even Deputy Development Minister Athanasios Skordas ordered the Office for Combating Economic Crimes to investigate the case.
The story of the invisible businessman-philanthropist who appears in the form of two-metre tall models driving luxury jeeps on the eve of Christmas and Easter in "Varvakios Agora" market sparked the curiosity of the Ministry of Development and the Office for Combating Economic Crimes. Who is the one who spends 50,000 euro for an hour (the turnover has been estimated by President of "Varvakios Agora" market Kleanthes Tsironis) and no one knows where the money comes from? Is the money declared to tax authorities?
Ever since 23 December, when the first "action" of the "philanthropist" took place in "Varvakios Agora" market, representatives of the Ministry of Development have taken actions. Deputy Minister Athanasios Skordas has ordered that it be found out who ultimately lies behind all this. Since then, inspectors have constantly been present in the market questioning traders, but they have not found anything yet. "We were sure that it was a publicity stunt and stopped the inspection," said Skordas. But the rumour about the invisible philanthropist reappeared on Maundy Thursday.
The new inspection found the following interesting things: how can the businessman in question appear only in "Varvakios Agora" market and not in other markets? How is it possible that two-metre tall ladies appear in the market but no one has ever thought to take even a single picture with a mobile phone? Why did traders from other stands, when asked about the incident, just laugh? How is it possible that they spent 50,000 euro, according to Tsironis’s estimations, but the total market turnover during the day was less? Finally, why did the few people who admitted that someone paid for their purchases, say that the cost of the meat was between 6 and 10 euro?
The story has a sequel. Besides the fact that the story has attracted the attention of the economic police, there are rumours that there actually is a businessman (and his name is also mentioned) who stands behind the incident and who does not want publicity because he has done it for purely philanthropic motives and in order to help those in need. To Vima newspaper contacted the businessman, but he not only denied being involved, but also asked his own questions: Those who went shopping in the market that day had calculated the money for their purchases, so how could the models understand who had no money and paid for their purchases? Whatever happened, a day after the action, "Varvakios Agora" market was full of people. If it really was a publicity stunt, it was successful. Now the economic police needs to discover who the invisible businessman is.