Details emerge from EPPO files on OPEKEPE subsidy fraud

Details person emerged from files compiled by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office concerning the alleged fraudulent organisation of EU cultivation subsidies done OPEKEPE.

On Friday, EPPO forwarded the worldly to Parliament requesting the lifting of parliamentary immunity for 11 ruling New Democracy lawmakers.

The lawsuit files are based connected conversations recorded by the constabulary Internal Affairs Directorate successful 2020-2021 and aboriginal processed by the Financial Police astatine EPPO’s request.

According to the documents, MP Katerina Papakosta contacted then OPEKEPE president Dimitris Melas successful precocious 2021 regarding a livestock husbandman facing a subsidy punishment for overstating carnal numbers.

The husbandman had attempted to debar sanctions by reducing the declared fig of animals successful the veterinary database and backdating the introduction to look arsenic if it had been made earlier an inspection.

Papakosta allegedly told Melas the husbandman was “a very important person” who had been assured of a favorable outcome, with Melas replying helium would analyse the matter.

The EPPO study states the aforesaid husbandman aboriginal removed much than 40 cattle from records aft being notified of a cheque and received €142,249 successful subsidies betwixt 2021 and 2024 to which helium was not entitled.

“The alteration of the veterinary database, which was tolerated and orchestrated by OPEKEPE president Dimitris Melas on with Katerina Papakosta MP, produced nonstop and amerciable fiscal results,” the EPPO study states.

In different September 2021 exchange, the manager of the bureau of then agrarian improvement curate Spilios Livanos allegedly asked Melas for a database of beneficiaries successful his constituency of Aitoloakarnania, suggesting funds estimated astatine €2-2.5 cardinal could beryllium redirected so “our ain people” would person support.

Other conversations cited successful the record reportedly amusement Serres MP Kostas A. Karamanlis requesting that OPEKEPE o.k. subsidies for 37 producers whose applications had antecedently been rejected.