Former ND official denies involvement in farm subsidy scandal

A erstwhile New Democracy authoritative and parliamentary campaigner has denied immoderate engagement successful a workplace subsidy scandal, hours aft reports said her assets, arsenic well arsenic those of household members, were frozen amid allegations they were not used for the intended cultivation and improvement purposes.

“I want them to permission us alone. We were not involved, and we person go target fig one,” Popi Semertzidou told Mega television. “I’m outraged. The worst portion is that nary 1 thinks astir our parents. It leaves a terrible content astir me.”

Earlier, it was reported that European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) had received a study from Greece’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority concerning alleged misuse of cultivation subsidies by Semertzidou, her spouse and household members.

According to sources, the assets of 4 individuals, worth astatine slightest €1.5 million, person been frozen, funds that investigators accidental were not used for the productive and developmental purposes for which they were granted.

Between 2019 and 2024, the suspects are alleged to person received a total of €2.6 cardinal successful subsidies from the Greek cultivation payments bureau OPEKEPE. Of that amount, astir €1.5 cardinal was allegedly misused, the sources said.

Authorities froze assets belonging to the two main suspects, relatives and a institution they established. The bid covers 11 properties, farmland and plots, arsenic well arsenic two luxury cars – a Ferrari and a Porsche – and 30 different vehicles used for rental purposes.

In 2019 parliamentary elections, Semertzidou unsuccessfully ran for New Democracy successful Kozani. She was aboriginal appointed arsenic the party’s assemblage resources and women’s entrepreneurship coordinator but resigned from the presumption when reports surfaced that she and her hubby had received a ample magnitude successful subsidies.