OPEKEPE: Prosecutor seeks conviction of 22 defendants for unlawful agricultural subsidies
European prosecutor Dionysios Mouzakis sought the conviction of 22 farmers, mainly from Crete, for fraud against OPEKEPE subsidies.
Prosecutor seeks conviction of 22 farmers for false OPEKEPE declarations
According to In.gr, appointed European prosecutor Dionysios Mouzakis recommended the conviction of 22 defendant farmers before the Three-Member Court of First Instance in Athens, in a case involving the unlawful receipt of subsidies from OPEKEPE. The majority of the defendants are from Crete.
During his address, the prosecutor analysed the common characteristics of the offences attributed to the defendants. According to the case file, they rented plots of land in areas outside Crete — specifically in Kalymnos, Nisyros, Kasos, Andros, Florina and Kastoria. The rented plots were allegedly owned by different owners from those listed as their occupants, whilst the rents were particularly low.
Mouzakis characterised the creation of conditions for the disbursement of subsidies within the framework of European legislation as "artificial". He highlighted as the "heart of the problem" the technical solution and the national reserve, noting that several individuals declared public and private areas — remote and with fictitious details.
"This case file was formed following an anonymous report. It reached the European Public Prosecutor's Office and the process was initiated. The examination by the financial police was limited only to the plots that OPEKEPE itself had already rejected within the framework of administrative review. I say this because the picture presented by the case file for some may be more favourable," Mouzakis stated.
The prosecutor also noted a common pattern in most cases: these are producers appearing for the first time, with declarations in areas outside Crete, plots registered on Form E9 and particularly low rents. "Furthermore, the applications were submitted from three declaration submission centres in Crete. The role of the Declaration Reception Centres is still under investigation," he concluded, before referring to the role of each defendant and calling for their conviction.
The trial continues with the arguments of the defence counsel. After their conclusion, the court will issue its ruling.
Source: In.gr