Greek judicial authorities have remanded in custody the suspected leader of a criminal organization accused of illegally obtaining agricultural subsidies from the Hellenic Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid (OPEKEPE).
The 38-year-old man from Giannitsa is the tenth defendant to be jailed in connection with the case, following a lengthy testimony before a European magistrate. He faces serious charges related to fraudulent subsidy claims and money laundering.
According to court sources, a total of 37 individuals are under investigation for their alleged roles in the network, which used false land declarations and fabricated livestock data to receive European agricultural funds.
“I Admit What I Did”
During his testimony, the defendant reportedly admitted part of the charges, stating that the actions described “were carried out by many people.” He also defended his ex-wife, who has been placed under house arrest with an electronic bracelet, insisting she had no involvement. “I admit what I’ve done,” he was quoted as saying. “But it’s not fair that others hide behind my prosecution. Each person who received money in their account must take responsibility.”
Earlier Arrests Include Deputy and Relatives
A day earlier, the alleged second-in-command of the network — a 38-year-old employee at a subsidy declaration center in Crete — was also jailed after denying the charges. Prosecutors say he played a key role in processing the fraudulent applications.
The investigation has revealed a wide web of participants, including:
- a couple from Ioannina accused of falsely declaring farmland and livestock,
- a 53-year-old merchant and her two daughters,
- two brothers who claimed non-existent cotton fields, and
- a waiter who allegedly posed as a farmer to collect payments on rented plots.
Another suspect reportedly transferred subsidies between bank accounts to obscure the source of the funds.
Political Reactions
The case has sparked a political row. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a social media post: “We will not back down, no matter the political cost, until all those who received illegal subsidies are punished. Payments to legitimate farmers have already resumed.”
Opposition parties, however, accused the government of hypocrisy. A spokesperson for the PASOK party called Mitsotakis’s statement “an act of self-promotion under the guise of transparency,” while SYRIZA described it as “a cover-up attempt for yet another scandal.”
