European Public Prosecutor's Office: Criminal proceedings against MPs and officials over OPEKEPE scandal
The European Public Prosecutor's Office has brought criminal charges against four New Democracy MPs and 18 other individuals over the OPEKEPE scandal. The charges concern breach of trust and unlawful management of European Union funds.
European Public Prosecutor's Office: Criminal proceedings against MPs and officials over OPEKEPE scandal
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has brought criminal charges against four New Democracy MPs as well as 18 other individuals, as part of an investigation into cases connected with the Agency for Payments and Supervision of Community Aid for Crop Production and Guarantees (OPEKEPE).
According to in.gr, among those charged are the former director of OPEKEPE, the former general director of Direct Payments and two former regional directors of the organisation. The charges relate to breach of trust and unlawful management of European Union funds.
PASOK spokesman Kostas Tsoukals commented on the development, emphasising that the decision by the European Public Prosecutor's Office demonstrates the scale of the scandal. "The bringing of criminal charges proves that the OPEKEPE scandal was blue and was organised by the prime minister's chosen ones," he said characteristically.
At the same time he responded to statements by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis on the matter, noting that for the first time a government and government officials are being prosecuted en masse by the justice system. "After hubris comes nemesis," Mr Tsoukals added.
The case concerns mismanagement of European funds through OPEKEPE, the body that manages agricultural subsidies in Greece.
Source: in.gr
Source: In.gr