Inmate allegedly linked to OPEKEPE farm subsidies fraud scheme, police say

A 71-year-old situation inmate was allegedly progressive successful a workplace subsidies fraud strategy linked to the OPEKEPE cultivation payments agency, according to police.

In a statement, constabulary said the antheral managed two companies based successful Central Macedonia which had nary registered commercialized activity, nary carnal offices and nary banking transactions.

According to the Economic Crimes unit, the suspect allegedly issued fake invoices and counterfeit effect certification labels done these companies, which were then provided to farmers to support applications for EU-funded cultivation subsidies.

Investigators said that betwixt January 2023 and June 2025, 1 institution issued fictitious invoices with a total nominal value of astir €440,100 to 368 counterparties. The 2nd institution allegedly issued further mendacious invoices worth astir €185,500 betwixt October 2024 and July 2025 to 151 counterparties.

The constabulary statement did not state whether the suspect was successful jailhouse when the alleged crimes took place.

Police said information from OPEKEPE indicated that astir 290 farmers used the allegedly falsified invoices and effect certification documents successful subsidy applications.

Authorities estimation the activities resulted successful a nonaccomplishment of astir €227,600 to European Union funds.

During a hunt of the suspect’s home, constabulary reportedly seized institution documents, stamps, handwritten lawsuit lists, a hard drive, a printer and adhesive labels used for effect power and inspection purposes.

Police added that the lawsuit record will beryllium forwarded to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office for further investigation.