Alleged ringleader and accountant convicted over illegal EU subsidies in Greece

A court in Thessaloniki, Greece, has handed down prison sentences to two men accused of orchestrating a scheme involving illegal agricultural subsidies. The alleged "leader" of the ring, a 39-year-old, and a 55-year-old accountant were each sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for three years, for their involvement in three instances of attempted fraud against the European Union's funds.

These convictions are part of a larger investigation into a network suspected of defrauding the Organization for Centralizing Agricultural Payments and Controls (OPEKEPE). The investigation, initiated by the European Public Prosecutor's Office and the Hellenic Police's anti-organized crime unit, uncovered a pattern of fraudulent activity between 2019 and 2024. The accused are currently detained in connection with the broader case, which came to light in October of the previous year.

The method employed by the group allegedly involved the temporary registration of land parcels, referred to as "orphan" plots, under the names of unsuspecting citizens. These plots were then falsely declared as leased to farmers who were applying for subsidies. The court found the two men guilty as accomplices in attempted fraud, with the specific cases predating the extensive investigation. Similar sentences were imposed on a farmer and a former deputy mayor for related offenses, including attempted fraud and false certification.