Fifty-seven of the 58 farmers from Crete have been found guilty of fraudulently claiming agricultural subsidies by falsely declaring ownership or use of grazing land in Kastoria — a region in northwestern Greece — to access funds from the national agricultural support program. The case reached the courts following a complaint filed by the former president of the Kastoria Agricultural Cooperative, who also testified as a witness.
One Defendant Acquitted
The court acquitted only one defendant, accepting her independent defense arguments presented by her lawyer and noting that she had voluntarily repaid approximately €30,000 received from OPEKEPE (the Greek Organization for the Management of Agricultural and Rural Development).
Reduced Charges in Some Cases
In certain instances, the court downgraded the charges after adjusting the claimed subsidy amounts downward, based on evidence regarding the actual sums received by the defendants.
Trial Proceedings and Next Steps
All defendants were represented by legal counsel but did not appear in person at the trial. The Athens Three-Member Misdemeanor Court will announce sentencing for the 57 convicted individuals on 1 July.
Eurojust-appointed European Prosecutor Charikleia Thanou had recommended convicting all 58 accused. She also requested certified copies of the court files to investigate whether inspectors and the head of OPEKEPE were complicit in issuing false certifications — potentially constituting criminal fraud under Greek law.
Questionable Land Declarations
According to the cooperative’s former president, the accused collectively declared around 64,000 stremmata (approx. 640 hectares) of grazing land, 22,000 stremmata of olive groves, and 17,000 stremmata of almond orchards in Kastoria and the nearby Grammos mountain area. However, the main prosecution witness stated that such land either does not exist in those areas or is unsuitable for the declared types of cultivation.