Debt firm founded by minister's cousin targeted

The offices of debt management company Qualco in Maroussi, northern Athens, were attacked on Tuesday by unidentified assailants.

One of the shareholders in the company is Orestis Tsakalotos, the cousin of Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos.

Qualco, which also offers debt collection and recovery services, heads a consortium that recently won an international tender to collect unpaid Public Power Corporation bills.

Orestis Tsakalotos founded Qualco in 1998. It teamed up with another seven companies earlier this year to win the PPC contract, which could earn the consortium up to 12 million euros.

According to police sources, six people forced their way into the company's offices and caused damage before running away.