European Prosecutor seeks conviction of 22 accused from Crete in OPEKEPE subsidy fraud
The European Prosecutor has sought the conviction of 22 accused from Crete for unlawful OPEKEPE agricultural subsidies during the period 2017-2020.
European Prosecutor seeks conviction of 22 Cretans for phantom subsidies in OPEKEPE scheme
The European Prosecutor has sought the conviction of 22 accused originating from Crete, who allegedly submitted applications for unlawful agricultural subsidies through OPEKEPE during the period 2017-2020, according to reports by Naftemporiki.
According to the indictment, the accused declared land parcels in Kasos, Andros, Nisyros, Florina and Kastoria to which they were not entitled, with the aim of receiving agricultural grants. The charges include fraud and complicity in fraud.
During the hearing proceedings, the European Prosecutor stressed that "it did not emerge that the alleged owned or rented land parcels existed in the ownership of the lessees, but instead belonged either to the state or to third parties". He added that no agricultural activity by the accused was proven, and notably remarked that these were "land parcels located very far from their places of residence".
At the time of publication of the news, the defence counsel of the accused are presenting their arguments.
Source: Naftemporiki