Greek authorities continue to investigate a bizarre and violent abduction involving the 24-year-old son of a Greek businessman. The young man was allegedly kidnapped and tortured by a trapper and his gang in an upscale suburb of Athens. But as details emerge, police say the case is generating more questions than answers.
The incident occurred on May 6 in Hymettus, just outside of Athens, where the young man was attacked outside an auto repair shop. Three men reportedly stabbed him in the legs with a screwdriver before forcing him into a car and driving him to the coastal area of Saronida. There, a fourth suspect joined them. The kidnappers allegedly demanded €25,000 and threatened to cut off the victim’s fingers, using a knife, bolt cutter, and gun.
Surveillance footage obtained by Greek broadcaster MEGA shows the moment the man escaped, opening the door of the white car where he was being held and running to safety. Despite the violence of the incident, it took three days before the abduction was officially reported. The victim initially contacted friends, not his family.
Police are now trying to determine the motive. The suspects claim the victim owed them money, while investigators are probing whether the incident was staged — or part of a larger dispute. Giorgos Kalliakmanis, former head of the Southeastern Attica Police Union, dismissed the idea of a setup but confirmed the victim and the suspects indeed knew each other. One had previously harassed the victim’s girlfriend, leading to a confrontation.
“There was a prior relationship. These weren’t strangers. And now we have kidnapping, extortion, and bodily harm — but still no clear motive,” Kalliakmanis said. “We need to understand what’s really behind all of this.”
