European prosecutors: four Greek MPs charged in connection with the EU agriculture scandal
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) announced on Thursday that four members of the Greek parliament are among the 22 people charged in connection with the European Union (EU) agricultural subsidy scandal that has rocked the government.
In a statement released by the agency, it was noted that “charges have been brought against 22 defendants, including four current members of the Greek parliament, several former high-ranking government officials and political staff, as part of an investigation into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving agricultural funds“.
The sum involved is said to be several million euros
Among the accused are the former political secretary of the ruling “New Democracy” party and several former officials of OPEKEPE, the agency responsible for distributing subsidies. One of them is the agency’s former chairman.
According to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the charges brought against the MPs include incitement to abuse trust, incitement to misappropriate EU funds, incitement to forge documents and attempted computer fraud.
The MEPs are suspected of having facilitated dozens of private individuals in applying for subsidies for land that did not belong to them and in inflating the number of livestock on their farms.
The EPPO’s statement states that the evidence “indicates, amongst other things, unlawful interference in administrative and inspection procedures, retroactive alterations to data following mandatory checks, unlawful interference in on-the-spot checks, the concealment and manipulation of inspection findings, and false certificates“.
Some of the recipients had no connection whatsoever with agriculture.
Most of the fraudulently obtained subsidies went to Crete
This case has increased the pressure on the Conservative Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, whose family has wielded political influence in Crete for over a century.
If found guilty, the defendants face up to five years’ imprisonment and fines.
Charges against seven other MPs and two former lawmakers were dropped due to lack of evidence, whilst three former MPs remain under investigation, the EPPO said.
