They continue today, Monday, the apologies of the accused before the investigator of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Athens, for the big case of illegal subsidies through OPEKEPE.
Today he submitted his resignation and the president of OPEKEPE Ioannis Kaimakamis, which was received by the Minister of Rural Development Costas Tsiaras. As for what goes on in the courtroom. According to information, six defendants cross the threshold of the investigative office today. Already one of them, a self-employed person who denies any involvement, has been temporarily detained. Instead, a second defendant was released on parole after pleading guilty.
He allegedly argued that he was unwittingly involved, as he had entrusted his personal taxisnet passwords to a co-accused, who used them illegally, declaring in his name parcels of land which he never owned. Later in the day, the accountant, who is attributed a central role in the circuit, is also expected to apologize.
At the same time, the alleged leader of the criminal organization, based in Giannitsa, was temporarily detained late Sunday night. The defendant is facing a very serious indictment, part of which he allegedly accepted during his plea. “I admit what I have done, but you accuse me of multiples. It’s not fair that everything is charged to me.
Everyone had their individual responsibility.” he allegedly stated before an investigator and prosecutor, adding that his ex-wife has no involvement. The alleged ringleader’s ex-wife herself was placed under house arrest with a “bracelet” after her apology. She claimed to be completely unaware of her ex-husband’s activities, stating:
“I run my own business with clothes and I have received a legitimate grant for my activity. The money found in my accounts comes from my business. My only mistake was that I trusted him blindly and he had full access to my finances.”
It is recalled that a total of 37 people are accused in the case. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has prosecuted criminal organisations, grant fraud, false declarations and money laundering.
According to the case file, the damage to the European Union and the Greek State exceeds 5 million euros. Apologies began last Friday and are expected to be completed within the day.
The procedure of the apology before an investigator
The first to enter the investigation office today is an accused who is said to be leasing but owning plots of land. From 2022, he appears as a transport car driver and even full-time. He is said to belong to the entourage of the Chief, as the address of the pretense he declares it belongs to the 36-year-old from Giannitsa.
The accused, after his plea, was released with restrictive conditions claiming that he had no idea about what was happening for years.
“I had trusted the taxisnet codes to any of my co-defendants, who managed them illegally, with the result that fields that I never owned were recorded as my property.” So far, out of the 37 people of the criminal organization, 10 have been remanded in custody, while twenty have been released with restrictive conditions, with the apologies continuing today.
The apology of the Chief’s father, who is considered the “deputy leader” of the criminal organization, remains pending. Although he was scheduled to apologize yesterday, he felt unwell and was taken by EKAB ambulance to Evangelismos where he remains hospitalized until now.
It’s not out of the question the European Investigator and the European Prosecutor to go to the hospital in order to receive his apology.