The findings of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office are incriminating for New Democracy MP for Trikala, Katerina Papakosta, as they attribute to her interventions in OPEKEPE and with competent veterinarians in order for livestock farmers in her electoral district to receive unlawful subsidies.

According to documents presented by protothema.gr, the specific farmer was caught by inspectors having fewer cattle than declared to OPEKEPE and was on track to be placed on the “red” tax ID list.

However, following interventions by the MP toward the then president of the organization, Dimitris Melas, and the competent regional veterinarian, dates were altered, the electronic system was breached, and “fabricated” documents were added so that the farmers could continue receiving payments.

As emerges from the recorded conversations and findings, a livestock farmer—whom Ms. Papakosta described as a “very important person” in Trikala—was found during an on-site inspection with 58 cattle, 12 fewer than the 70 declared, on which subsidies were calculated. The inspection followed a complaint, and the penalty imposed was exclusion from the subsidy system. However, through pressure and interventions by the MP, the veterinary database was allegedly tampered with to alter dates and figures so it would appear the farmer had declared 58 animals before the inspection took place.

“I am Katerina Papakosta, MP for Trikala”

The first calls by Ms. Papakosta to Mr. Melas were made on 24/8/2021 but went unanswered.

He eventually returned the call, leading to the following exchange:

Melas: “Who is this?”
Papakosta: “Katerina Papakosta, MP for Trikala.”

She then explains she is calling regarding a livestock case in her area:

Papakosta: “The process from Trikala regarding the case of T.M., in coordination with Z. (veterinarian), has been completed.”
Melas: “I know.”

Papakosta: “So from September, as we said, you should now handle the remaining part… Do you want me to remind you?”
Melas: “No need. Before the payment at the end of September or early October, we will take the file from the veterinary database, so once updated, they will receive the new status.”

“We will be exposed”

On 27/9/2021, the MP again contacts Mr. Melas to remind him of the case, assuring him it has been “settled” with the veterinarian. Later, she informs him the farmer was not paid despite all actions taken and urges him to look into it “because we will be exposed,” as she χαρακτηριστικά says.

Mr. Melas then asks a subordinate to investigate the case:

Employee: “From what I see, this M. is not being paid for his cattle… there was an on-site inspection after a complaint, and there is a discrepancy… I see no correction, no remedy, and he is not being paid—there is an excess percentage above 2%.”

Melas: “We had agreed he would coordinate with the veterinarian in Trikala… to reduce the percentage so he wouldn’t face sanctions.”

Employee: “I see no change in livestock numbers.”
Melas: “They spoke with Z. (veterinarian), and he agreed to reduce the eligible animals after the inspection findings.”
Employee: “He was found to have a discrepancy of 12 animals, exceeding 20%, which is why he was not paid.”

“He is a very important person”

Later, in another call:

Melas: “At first glance, it looks like no correction has been made—the data appears the same as in May.”
Papakosta: “How is that possible? Z. assured me it was done… I’ll speak with him.”

She adds:
“We must fix this, we absolutely must fix this… he is a very important person, and we have reassured him 99.9%.”

Melas: “So you benefit a good voter of yours… I don’t benefit at all, I’m only exposed… but the intention was there.”

Key excerpt from the findings

The report states that between August and October 2021, Ms. Papakosta, through repeated communications (calls and messages), pressured OPEKEPE President Dimitris Melas—using persuasion and invoking her institutional role (“do you want me to remind you?”, “we will be exposed”, “we must fix it”)—to commit the criminal offense of breach of trust (a felony).

It further notes she was aware of the illegal and fraudulent nature of her request, as evidenced by her acknowledgment of the risk of exposure and her explicit admission that the “adjustment” of the farmer’s case was based on a retroactive, fictitious intervention in the veterinary database.

Her goal was not merely the payment of a single subsidy, but the full concealment of the farmer’s fraud, ensuring he would not be excluded from the system. As a result, the farmer allegedly received €27,800.16 for 2021 and continued to unlawfully receive funds through 2024, causing total damages of €142,249.81 to EU and Greek public funds.

Additional charges

In another section, the report states that on 2/3/2021, Ms. Papakosta pressured a veterinarian to commit computer fraud and issue false certifications, leading to damages exceeding €120,000.

Reference to Karamanlis and Livanos

The report also references a case involving Kostas Karamanlis. While there is no direct communication between him and OPEKEPE, his name appears in a conversation between Mr. Melas and an associate of then Minister of Rural Development Spilios Livanos.

In a recorded call (11/09/2021), the associate refers to a case involving 37 individuals connected to Karamanlis. Melas explains procedural limitations and suggests a hierarchical appeal to the minister as the only viable route.

In another call (05/11/2021), a ministerial associate states:
“If nothing is affected and there’s no issue… Karamanlis is requesting it, we’ll do it.”

Melas responds that public funds are involved, but ultimately agrees to examine how the case can be processed, noting that a formal acceptance by the minister would be required for payment to proceed.