Eighteen suspects accused of running a tax evasion network that allegedly cost the Greek state more than €203 million faced judicial authorities in Thessaloniki on Saturday. Prosecutors brought felony charges including directing, forming and participating in a criminal organization, continuous fraud against the Greek state with losses exceeding €120,000, forgery against the state, and money laundering. The defendants are expected to give statements next week, while 16 of the accused remain in custody. Investigators allege the group used around 4,200 tax identification numbers and hundreds of shell companies over the past three years to build unpaid tax and social security debts. The debts are reported to include €68 million in unpaid VAT and income tax owed to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, AADE, and €135 million in unpaid contributions to the EFKA social security fund. The investigation looked at more than 700 business locations in Thessaloniki, Halkidiki and other parts of Greece, involving more than 2,000 businesses in the restaurant and nightlife sectors. Authorities also allege the network recruited people with serious health problems, approaching them mainly outside hospitals in Thessaloniki and Athens and paying them modest monthly sums to appear as company managers and sole shareholders. The companies were then allegedly used to accumulate debts that were never intended to be repaid. Two of those arrested were released in connection with separate alleged firearms-law violations, with those cases still at the preliminary investigation stage.