The finance ministry on Monday announced dozens of audits in agencies of the broader public sector and formal inquiries into the activities of tax and customs officials, following up complaints by members of the public referring to numerous types of violations and offences.

Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou ordered 10 audits of Technological Educational Institutes, hospitals, municipal authorities and enterprises - including that of Thessaloniki - that will be carried out in collaboration with the appropriate bodies, such as the Court of Audit or the Public Administration General Inspector.

Orders have also been given for 25 formal inquiries into officials in the state financial services, both at the ministry's central services and in regional tax offices, customs posts and real estate services.

These will investigate complaints of corruption that include taking bribes and illegal enrichment, irregular inspections of businesses, various types of negligence and omissions, reports of a circuit for illegal VAT returns in northern Greece, failure to collect import dues, leaks of personal information, issue of fake documents and others.

For those accused of taking bribes and illegal enrichment, the ministry will also check their means and asset statements, among them state employees implicated in the Siemens scandal.

In an announcement, the ministry stressed that it was determined to continue steadfastly investigating both anonymous and named complaints reported to its 1517 phone line in order to restore transparency and credibility within its own services.