The Three-Member Misdemeanors Court of Athens ruled guilty 57 farmers from Crete who, according to the indictment, illegally received European subsidies through OPEKEPE.

In contrast, the court unanimously acquitted one female producer, accepting her independent claim that the criminal liability was extinguished, as she had repaid the funds she had received with interest, amounting to approximately €30,000.

For some of the convicted defendants, the court also modified the charges and reduced the amounts of the subsidies listed in the original indictment.

Specifically, according to the indictment by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the 57 individuals involved allegedly received illegal subsidies worth thousands of euros from OPEKEPE, for land declared in Kastoria—some as grazing land and others for olive and almond cultivation.

The defendants did not appear in court and were represented by their lawyers, who requested mitigating circumstances.

The Athens Misdemeanors Court adjourned the case until Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in order to rule on mitigating factors and the sentences to be imposed.