Three suspected members of an alleged criminal network believed to have fraudulently obtained nearly €2.5 million in agricultural subsidies through the country’s payments agency, OPEKEPE, were remanded in custody on Tuesday.
The three, among whom is the alleged ringleader of the group and its “coordinator,” were employees at declaration processing centers and the third is a farmer.
They were among a total of 12 defendants from Kozani and Agrinio who appeared before an investigative magistrate this morning to testify over their alleged involvement in the case.
Nine more defendants were released on bail, ranging from €5,000 to €15,000.
Investigators allege members falsely claimed ownership or lease rights to farmland to qualify for payments. Many of the declared plots were actually owned by public bodies, local authorities, state agencies, renewable energy companies and private businesses. Members of the group also allegedly posed as landowners and fictitiously leased land to third parties to create the appearance of legitimacy.
