A prosecutor’s decision has opened the way for “the return of stolen money” from the electricity company Energa-Hellas Power to the Greek public sector.

According to the decision, about 10 million euros will be returned to 72 municipalities around the country.

That money was collected from consumers by the company to pay local taxes for sanitation, lighting and property taxes, but the company pocketed the money instead of handing it over to local government.

The public sector overall is entitled to receive 80 million euros from the company, due to the same scam.

Aristidis Floros of Energa and Vasilis Milionis of Hellas Power were both found guilty in the trial of the case. Eleven out of 19 of the accused were convicted.

A three-judge Appellate Felony Court ordered the return of the 121 million euros in cash from corporate bank accounts that had already been frozen by the authority for combating money-laundering.