A peculiar case of hidden bigamy involving a Greek advertising entrepreneur, who juggled two wives—one in Greece and another in the Netherlands—has reached Greece’s Supreme Court.
The Dutch woman, with whom he has a child, revealed his double life to his Greek wife, who subsequently filed a lawsuit for €300,000 in damages but was awarded only €30,000.
The Greek wife worked at the advertising agency where he served as the majority shareholder and general manager. They began a relationship and wed in 2008 on an Ionian island. Despite attempts at assisted reproduction, they did not have children. He frequently traveled abroad for work, leaving her to manage his business operations in Greece without compensation.
Fake Divorce for Tax Purposes
After nine years of marriage, in 2017, he first proposed moving their tax residence to Cyprus to avoid Greece’s high taxes for couples.
He later claimed that his accountants worried the Cypriot authorities might decline his request since his wife still resided in Greece, maintaining his personal and economic connections there.
Thus, he suggested a fake divorce—an amicable, formal separation without any court appearance, assuring her they would continue living as a couple and that it would facilitate the tax move.
Initially hesitant, she ultimately agreed, swayed by his claims that this was a “safe and common solution during the financial crisis.” He managed to convince her to sign a private agreement for their mutual divorce, which was finalized in June 2017 by the Ioannina Court of First Instance.
Messages of Love & the Truth Unfolds
Their “fake divorce” life went on seamlessly. He claimed to be traveling for business to places like New York and Luxembourg while she handled operations in Greece. They exchanged daily affectionate emails filled with endearing phrases:
- “Goodnight, my love / Good morning. What are you doing? I desire you. I’m going to the office / Rest well, baby / My beauty / I miss you, my wonderful little creature / My heart, there’s a lot of pressure here. Thinking of you / You’re my little bug / My passion / My little heart,” and more.
In these emails, he also referred to his no-show business trips: “We’ll fly to New York from Brussels in the morning / Just landed, my love,” etc.
However, as the Supreme Court revealed, on July 3, 2017, in the early hours, while supposedly in Luxembourg, he sent her a message saying:
“Se latreuo, ksekinao pali doulitsa” (Greeklish for “I adore you, I’m starting work again”).
Shortly after, she received another message:
“I am G.T., don’t contact us again. We have a daughter everyone knows about… I’m sorry, he told me you’ve been divorced for three years.”
Photos & Identical Messages
Accompanying the message were photos: one of him with a blonde woman, one with a smiling toddler, and another with a newborn in a maternity ward.
The Dutch woman also shared emails he had sent her, containing the same affectionate words he used with his Greek wife.
According to the court, based on the Dutch woman’s testimony, the businessman was in the Netherlands with her during the periods he claimed to be on business trips to the U.S. and Luxembourg.
He didn’t merely live a double life; he deceived the Greek woman into a fake divorce, exploiting her trust and stripping her of her legal rights.
The Dutch woman claimed to have met him back in 2000 when she briefly worked (for 2-3 months) at his company.
The Lawsuit
The Greek woman sued him for €300,000 in damages for the emotional distress he caused through his unlawful and irresponsible actions. The court, however, only awarded her €30,000.
Ultimately, the Greek Supreme Court dismissed the businessman’s appeal to overturn the appellate court’s ruling against him.
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