Remand in custody for NGO fraud in Thessaloniki – embezzlement of €2.8 million
The 35-year-old partner of the NGO founder was placed in remand custody following her testimony. Police are investigating 92 fundraisers and illegal profits of €2.8 million.
35-year-old partner of NGO founder remanded in custody following court testimony
The 35-year-old partner of the founder of an NGO based in Thessaloniki was placed in remand custody following her testimony, according to Dikastiko.gr. The organisation is accused of collecting money through charitable fundraisers for children with serious illnesses and subsequently embezzling a large portion of these funds.
During her testimony, the 35-year-old admitted partial involvement in the embezzlement but claimed that the amounts that went missing are far smaller than those stated in the case file. "The money missing from the fundraisers is not that much. The money that disappeared was taken by my ex-husband, who gambled it away – he's addicted. I apologise. We did not have a luxurious life; the instances that are being presented do not correspond to reality. We live in a 68 square-metre house in Toumba paying rent. There was no complaint from any family, and the needs of all the families for whom fundraisers were held were met," she reportedly stated during her hearing.
The other three defendants who testified – the 32-year-old brother of the woman, a referee, and a representative from a local sports club – denied any involvement in the case and were released on restrictive conditions. Another defendant is expected to testify the following day, whilst the 37-year-old NGO founder will appear before investigating authorities on Thursday, according to information from voria.gr.
Financial details of the case
Police are investigating a total of 92 fundraisers conducted by the NGO on behalf of 74 beneficiaries. According to the case file, the fundraisers raised a total of €3,940,692, of which only €1,111,176 was paid to the beneficiaries. The illegal financial gain is calculated at €2,829,516.
Fixed matches and money laundering
One aspect of the case involves alleged match-fixing through the purchasing of referee decisions, with payments ranging from €300 to €500 per match. To conceal the fraud, the defendants created, according to the charges, various money-laundering mechanisms. Additionally, approximately €250,000 is reported to have been allocated for funding two local sports teams in Pieria.
Source: Dikastiko.gr