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Gallery Owner Released on Bail in Art Fraud Case

Published March 24, 2026, 17:14
Gallery Owner Released on Bail in Art Fraud Case

Gallery owner Giorgos Tsagarakis was released on bail, with a €50,000 guarantee, after his testimony on charges related to the possession and distribution of forged artworks, the misappropriation of valuable monuments, and the laundering of proceeds from illegal activity. He was subjected to restrictive conditions, such as the obligation to appear at the police station, a ban on leaving the country, and a ban on selling antiquities. He is allowed to deal with paintings only if they have a certificate of authenticity. An employee of the gallery, accused of possessing the proceeds of crime, was released without conditions. The case began after complaints about forged artworks offered for sale by Tsagarakis, including an 18th-century Gospel. During his testimony, Tsagarakis denied the charges.