The handcuffs it is not an image that we usually associate with bright Greek faces showbiz. And yet, in recent years, several famous – actors, singers, media people – found themselves in trouble with the law, sometimes for out-of-control traffic violations and sometimes for other cases.
These stories reveal that publicity does not offer immunity and one mistake, one bad moment can turn the life of a showbiz person upside down. And when their handcuffed images make the rounds on the internet, the shock is twofold: the fall from the podium becomes a public spectacle and reality shows its harshest face.
Dimitra Matsouka
Dimitra Matsouka was arrested on Wednesday night (19.11.2025) when the Traffic radars detected her car moving at excessive speed on the beach at the height of Vouliagmeni. The officers who signaled her to stop found that she was driving without a license, while her vehicle had no plates, as they had been taken away from her in two previous offences, in October and November.
In the breathalyzer it was found that he had consumed alcohol, above the permissible limits: 0.42 mg/l in the first measurement and 0.38 mg/l in the second, while the permissible limit is 0.24. The actress was taken to the department and a case file was filed for multiple traffic violations.
Vassilis Bispikis
He was found in handcuffs a few weeks ago the actor Vassilis Bisbikis, who was arrested on the afternoon of Sunday September 28 because crashed cars in Filothei and left the scene.
The traffic accident in which Vassilis Bispikis has been involved took place in the early hours of Saturday, September 27, when the actor crashed his car into other cars that were on his way on Karaoli and Dimitriou streets in Filothei and then left the scene. The actor presented himself at the Kifissia police station and admitted that he was driving and was subsequently arrested by the police.
The actor admitted that he was driving himself, claiming that he had only consumed “a tsikoudia” at a Cretan feast and that the road was narrow. As he said: “I hit two cars and the wall due to bad handling. I left a note and went home.” In his apology, he denied that he was under the influence of alcohol, describing the wall as a “small wall”.
Christos Mastoras
The news made the rounds on the internet on the morning of Monday, February 3, 2025. A well-known singer was arrested in the center of Athens in the early hours of the morning, after a breathalyzer test to which he had been subjected. Later it became known that it was him Christos Mastoras. According to ELAS, the famous singer did not stop at a traffic block and tried to get away.
He claimed that he did not perceive the signal of the policemen. The breathalyzer showed high readings, resulting in his arrest. The incident happened at around 2 in the morning at the intersection of Stadiou and Aiolos in the area of Omonia.
In his first post after his arrest, Christos Mastoras wrote: “The law is clear and I ignored it.”
His Instagram post in detail:
“Alcohol is not a good counselor. A beautiful trip on an outing with my girl and her company full of laughter dreams and good mood, but in the end it turned out sour. The law is clear and I ignored it by getting behind the wheel. There are no excuses. The police did their job and after the latest events they cannot and should not under any circumstances discount security measures. All professional, kind and above all people who care about justice that protects the responsible from the irresponsible.
From the prosecutor to the judge, I felt watching other cases that everyone is making sure that justice is served. I am not holy or infallible, but I am here to correct my mistakes and become better. Thank you so much to all the friends who sent love and messages,” wrote Christos Mastoras.
Apostolos Gletsos
Apostolos Gletsos – then the mayor of Stylida – was arrested in January 2011, by order of the prosecutor, because he tried together with the residents of Stylida to open the side road of the national road, so that drivers could bypass the tolls and not pay the toll.
The image of Gletsos in handcuffs made the rounds on social media.
Lakis Gavalas
Perhaps the most typical “famous prisoner” of the last decades is Lakis Gavalas. The designer spent months in prison for large debts to the State.
He has described his experience in his own, theatrical way: “In prison, where I was for 15 months, I immediately faced a respect because I had a foreigner who wanted to make fun of me. When you see a tragedy that the other person says “oime”, which means “say what a disaster we have suffered”, this happens either with ten rehearsals or you take it out of your life that creates it. I have said it in all the publications. And staged and autonomous and spontaneous and all. So I said an oime, hard at first to myself, and then it became a hymn.” he said himself.
Michalis Hatzigiannis
In the summer of 2014 Michalis Hatzigiannis was arrested for making a false report to the authorities regarding the number plates of his Ferrari. The singer had declared the license plates of the luxury car as stolen, while they were normally on it, which was at a car show. He also faced serious financial charges for remittances of 5.3 million euros to Cyprus. He was eventually acquitted by both the administrative and criminal courts for tax evasion, while the money-laundering case was also dropped.
Panos Kallides
He was found in his car during a standard traffic control Panos Kallides 22 mm pistol without license. He was arrested and taken to GADA, where a case file was filed.
According to “Espresso”, the singer ran into a police block in Karaiskaki square where they signaled him to stop his car. The police officers recognized him, proceeded to check and found a 22mm pistol and then asked for the relevant license.
However, when Panos Kalidis informed them that he did not have a license, he was arrested and taken to GADA, where a case file was filed against him for the charge of illegal weapons carrying-weapons possession.
Themis Adamantidis
In July 2022, Themis Adamantidis was arrested after complaint of his partner for beating. The incident allegedly happened, according to the complaint, in Ano Glyfada.
Police officers located Themis Adamantidis outside a casino in Ampelokipi and took him to the Alimos police station. The singer also filed a lawsuit against his partner, for false accusation. The case got a lot of publicity.
Notis Sfakianakis
The news that Notis Sfakianakis was arrested on Sunday night (29.11.2020) during a random check on Vouliagmenis Avenue caused an uproar. The singer was arrested with 2 grams of cocaine and a pistol.
Everything happened at the junction of Vouliagmeni Avenue and Iasonidou Street in Elliniko. Notis Sfakianakis was returning to his home, in Varkiza, having sent an SMS to move – due to the measures for the corona virus. As part of the checks, the well-known singer was signaled by the police to stop, which he did. The cops have asked him to get out of his luxury SUV and are asking him to show them either sms or his travel documents.
Initially, Notis Sfakianakis denied that he had anything illegal with him, however one of the police officers who did the check saw a small purse on the passenger seat and asked him to open it.
There, they found it 9-round Beretta pistol, a teaser and a bag of white powder.
“It’s what you know. It is for personal use” was, according to information from police sources, the answer of Notis Sfakianakis.
Regarding the weapon, he said he has it with him because he is in danger and claimed that his license had expired and he had not renewed it.
The police officers handcuffed him and took him to the A.T. Argyroupoli and from there to the Vouliagmeni Security Department, where Notis Sfakianakis spent the night. A case file was filed against the well-known singer for possession of drugs and illegal possession of a weapon.