Penniless shepherd among Greece's top debtors

A PENNILESS shepherd from the island of Crete is one of Greece's top state debtors, a report said yesterday, highlighting the daunting task facing the crisis-hit country in managing its chaotic finances.

Stelios Parasyris, 65, is deemed to owe the Greek state nearly €10.8 million (US$14 million) after allegedly pocketing tax refunds using false documents 17 years ago, Ethnos daily reported.

At the time, he had gained 30 million drachmas, the equivalent of €88,000.

Parasyris, who now lives in a hut and has a flock of 50 sheep, told the daily he has paid his dues "three times over" but state fines and years of compounded interest have driven his debt to astronomical levels.

"If the others on the list are as poor as me, I don't see a future for this country," the father of five told the newspaper.

The shepherd is one of over 4,000 people on a list of state debtors released last month. The finance ministry in September had also named some 6,000 businesses and companies many now legally defunct owing the state over €30 billion.

Authorities have waged a well-publicised campaign in recent months to round up debtors and tax cheats but the financial benefits have been minimal so far.

Arrest warrants for nearly 500 people were issued between December and January for unpaid state bills and tax evasion.

AFP