A court in Greece postponed until Monday the trial of a 68-year-old woman and her son, who are accused of concealing the remains of the woman’s elderly mother at their home in Nea Makri, northeast of Athens.
The case came to light Friday, when police found human bones in an underground storage area at the family’s home after a complaint from the elderly woman’s granddaughter. She reportedly told authorities she had not been in contact with her grandmother for about 10 years.
The 68-year-old allegedly admitted that she had buried her mother’s body so she could continue collecting her pension. Her son, the elderly woman’s grandson, denies any involvement.
Authorities have assigned a specialist anthropologist to examine the remains and determine the woman’s age and, if possible, when she died. The findings could help establish when the alleged concealment occurred and determine the extent of any suspected fraud against the state.
Prosecutors are also investigating whether the alleged pension fraud could constitute a felony. Under Greek law, the offense may be treated as a felony if the total amount exceeds €120,000.
