NGO "Paidiki Hara" fraud: asset seizure and €300,000 found in Luxembourg
The Anti-Money Laundering Authority identified €300,000 in Luxembourg and ordered asset seizure in Thessaloniki. The 35-year-old partner of the founder was remanded in custody.
Discovery of €300,000 in Luxembourg — asset seizure of NGO "Paidiki Hara" defendants
The Anti-Money Laundering Authority identified three hundred thousand euros in Luxembourg as part of the investigation into the NGO "Paidiki Hara" based in Thessaloniki, according to Dikastiko.gr. These amounts were discovered during the tracing of financial flows through PayPal accounts, with the Authority extending its investigation beyond Greek borders.
By decision of the head of the Authority, Charalampos Vorliotis, the seizure of assets belonging to all defendants was ordered. In this context, real estate in Thessaloniki was also seized. The question remains open regarding the fate of money derived from donations: competent sources report that donors who can prove with documentation that the seized amounts belong to them can claim them.
The 35-year-old remanded in custody — three others released on bail
The 35-year-old partner of the NGO founder was remanded in custody following her interrogation. The organisation, using charitable fundraising as a pretext for children with serious illnesses, unlawfully benefited at the expense of unsuspecting citizens. In parallel, one aspect of the case concerns fixed sporting events and the bribery of referees' decisions.
The 32-year-old brother of the woman, a referee, and a local sports association official who also gave their statements were released on bail. According to voria.gr, another defendant was expected to give his statement the following day, whilst Thursday is scheduled for the interrogation of the 37-year-old founder of the NGO.
Partial admission from the defendant
The three defendants denied any involvement. The 35-year-old admitted part of the embezzlement, claiming however that the amounts were much smaller than those cited by the prosecution.
"The money missing from the fundraising drives is not that much. And what is missing was taken by my ex-husband who gambled it away, he is addicted. I apologise. We did not have a luxurious life, the moments being shown do not correspond to reality. We live in a house in Toumpa of 68 square metres paying rent. There was no complaint from any family, the needs of all the families for whom fundraising was conducted were met," she reportedly stated during her interrogation.
Nearly €4 million collected — less than one-third returned
Police are investigating a total of 92 fundraising drives conducted by the NGO for 74 beneficiaries. According to the case file, the total amount of money collected amounts to €3,940,692. Beneficiaries received only €1,111,176, with the unlawful financial gain calculated at €2,829,516.
To conceal the fraud, the individuals involved created, according to the prosecution, money-laundering mechanisms through the financing of sporting events, with fees ranging from €300 to €500 per event. Additionally, approximately €250,000 is reported to have been allocated to finance two local football teams in Pieria.
Source: Dikastiko.gr