There is no end to the cases opened by the European Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the OPEKEPE affair, which, while closing the massive file on national reserve fraud for the years 2021 to 2025—where a series of felony prosecutions is expected to be launched simultaneously—has made significant progress in its investigation into the famous eco-schemes.
The deception schemes in Thessaly and Crete
These involve the so-called fraud schemes where, in literal terms, Agricultural Application Centers (KYD), in cooperation with producers or on their own initiative, collected vast sums of money to which they were not entitled. According to BN's information, the evidence submitted so far to the European Public Prosecutor points to criminal organizations operating as communicating vessels across the regions of Thessaly and Crete. The European Public Prosecutor's Office has summoned individuals who have already testified to provide additional details this week and next, alongside new witnesses believed to possess evidence on this specific fraud. Indeed, among the individuals included are journalists who have occasionally disclosed specific evidence regarding how the eco-scheme fraud was carried out.
Forged supporting documents
It is worth noting that the investigations of the European Public Prosecutor focus on the systematic creation of forged documents by large, well-known KYD to collect illegal fees for themselves and unlawful subsidies for producers. Furthermore, authorities are examining the process through which farmers were used as bait under the pretext that they did not need to take any action themselves, as the centers would provide the necessary documentation for a fee. These KYD maintained a preferential relationship with OPEKEPE and the Ministry of Agriculture, benefiting from the explicit tolerance of OPEKEPE—particularly its favorite president, Bampasidis—alongside top audit officials and at least the tolerance of General Secretary Stratakos, who had previously claimed to have no involvement with OPEKEPE.
Tsiaras and Salatas also targeted
The investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office also appears to examine the actions of Tsiaras and Salatas, with the former having proudly declared that an audit of the eco-schemes was conducted, stating: "We determined that over 30,000 producers held more than 49,000 forged certificates. Whether this stems from their own fault or involves the KYD is something we are currently investigating." However, following these statements, no substantive action was taken on the matter, and payments to fraudsters reportedly continue; meanwhile, Mr. Tsiaras seemingly failed to notice any irregularities within the KYD of GAIA Epicheirein or prominent executives of PEFASY. In any case, the investigation into the eco-schemes is expected to conclude within September, followed by a wave of felony indictments.
Nikos Karoutzos
nkaroutzos@gmail.com
www.bankingnews.gr
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