Two defendants convicted in illegal agricultural subsidy scheme in Giannitsa
A Thessaloniki court imposed prison sentences on individuals involved in fraud related to OPEKEPE agricultural subsidies in Pella.
Two defendants convicted in illegal agricultural subsidy scheme in Giannitsa
A Thessaloniki court convicted two individuals who were presented as the main participants in a group that defrauded the agricultural subsidy system in the Giannitsa area of Pella. The sentences imposed amounted to one year's imprisonment for each, with execution suspended for three years, as they were found guilty of attempted fraud against the financial resources of the European Union.
One of the convicted individuals is a 39-year-old man presented as the head of the criminal organisation, while the second is a 55-year-old accountant. Both have remained in pre-trial detention since October of the previous year, when their activity was uncovered following an investigation by European prosecutorial authorities and the Greek service dealing with organised crime in Northern Greece.
The case, which was tried at second instance, concerned incidents that took place in 2019 and 2020. The acts were initially reported to the judiciary and are being prosecuted as misdemeanours.
The method followed by the group, according to the indictment, was as follows: they temporarily registered agricultural plots without a real owner in the names of individuals who were unaware their details were being used. Later, the same plots appeared as being leased by farmers who submitted applications for community subsidies.
The same court imposed similar sentences on two other participants: on a farmer for attempted fraud and forgery, as well as on a former elected local government official for false certification, after he confirmed as a genuine a signature that was not.
None of the four defendants were granted mitigating circumstances. At first instance, the case had been examined by the Misdemeanours Court of the area, where the same sentences had been imposed.
Source: ERT News
Source: ERT