An internal audit submitted to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office by former OPEKEPE auditor Paraskevi Tycheropoulou has introduced new details in the investigation into allegedly illegal agricultural subsidies involving 13 lawmakers from Greece’s ruling New Democracy party.
The May 18 report reviewed 23 cases involving producers on whose behalf lawmakers allegedly intervened. According to the report, six cases caused losses to European Union funds, six showed no financial damage, and 11 contained insufficient evidence from the Financial Police, whose findings formed the basis of the indictment.
The report concludes that six lawmakers allegedly intervened in cases involving unlawful subsidy payments amounting to misdemeanors under Greek law, while evidence was insufficient in five cases and no losses were identified in two others. It also alleges systematic withholding or delays of information by the new OPEKEPE administration and faults the Financial Police for failing to properly evaluate evidence.
The largest alleged losses, totaling €100,382 involved cases linked to lawmaker Giannis Kefalogiannis. One concerned payments to a beneficiary claiming plots on Nisyros after earlier payments had been frozen following inspections.
