OPEKEPE scandal: Greece’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority has seized the assets of former New Democracy official Kalliopi Semertzidou, her partner and family members and informed the European Public prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) about the alleged misuse of European Union agricultural subsidies accordingly.
Citing sources, state-run news agency amna and all Greek media report that the assets of Semertzidou, of her partner, one more family member and a joint company, assets worth at least 1.5 million euros, have been frozen. Investigators have reportedly said that EU funds were not used for the productive and developmental purposes for which they were granted.
Between 2019 and 2024, the suspects are alleged to have received a total of 2.6 million euros in subsidies from the Greek agricultural payments agency OPEKEPE. Of that amount, about 1.5 million euros was allegedly misused, the sources said.
Authorities froze assets belonging to the two main suspects, relatives and a company they established. According to media, the order covers 11 properties, farmland and plots, as well as two luxury cars – a Ferrari and a Porsche – and 30 other vehicles used for rental purposes.
Semertzidou’s name, a wanna-be lawmaker with ruling New Democracy from Thessaly in Central Greece, was revealed to be involved in the OPEKEPE scandal beginning of August. She was forced to resign from the ND office responsible for EU agricultural funds distribution. KTG reported HERE
The multi-paged report sent to EPPO refers to suspected fraud and money laundering and calls for a full investigation into the allegations.
Investigators have also asked financial authorities to examine whether around 1 million euros of the subsidies were obtained through the use of false or fictitious invoices.
A pretty face can only go so far
In the meanwhile, farmers in Thessaly are suffering. They are struggling with an outbreak of small pox in their herds of animals, after they already suffered an outbreak of some other disease, on top of the losses they incurred because of Daniel. Farmers have not received any compensation for their animals that had to slaughtered. They are begging that that animals are to be vaccinated. Rumour has it that the government doesn’t want that because it would entail that the EU would send a veterinary inspection team and then an even bigger scandal about subsidies would come to the surface.