Konstantinos Firinidis, founder of the Greek non-governmental organisation (NGO) Paidiki Chara (Children’s Playground), has been remanded in custody following his appearance before Thessaloniki’s First Investigating Judge on Thursday.

The 37-year-old is accused of embezzling €2.9 million raised through charitable fundraising campaigns intended to help seriously ill children.

According to information obtained about his testimony, Firinidis told the investigating judge that he was “remorseful and devastated”, offering what he described as a “sincere apology to everyone, not merely a token one”.

‘I was addicted to gambling and had delusions of grandeur’

During his testimony, Firinidis attributed his actions to a severe gambling addiction, claiming that the actual amount of money withheld from the families was substantially lower than the sum cited in the indictment.

“I did all this because of my gambling addiction. I needed money to gamble. Between €400,000 and €600,000 was not handed over. I did not lead a luxurious lifestyle. The money spent on my supposedly extravagant lifestyle was minimal,” he reportedly told the judge.

“I had delusions of grandeur. I wanted to appear socially superior, and I was completely addicted to gambling. This is evident from the records held by the betting companies. On a daily basis, I could place as many as 30 different bets. The children’s parents came to us of their own accord seeking help. We never went looking for people to recruit.”

Firinidis also rejected allegations relating to match-fixing, insisting that his previous claims about such activities were fabricated to create a particular impression.

“None of the allegations about fixed matches are true. It was all empty talk to make it look as though I was spending money. I have not spent more than €30,000 on uniforms and other necessities,” he claimed.

His partner was remanded in custody a day earlier

Firinidis appeared before the investigating judge one day after his partner, 35-year-old Vasiliki Manisioti, was also remanded in custody in connection with the same case.

During her own testimony before Thessaloniki’s First Investigating Judge, Manisioti denied the charges as presented against her and placed responsibility for the missing donations on Firinidis.

She maintained that the amount of money which never reached the families of sick children did not exceed €900,000, rather than the €2.9 million alleged in the indictment.

According to information about her testimony, Manisioti claimed that Firinidis had spent the missing funds on gambling, arguing that he suffered from a serious addiction.

She acknowledged that she knew and understood what was happening and offered an apology, while rejecting allegations that the couple had enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle.

Manisioti told the investigating judge that they lived in a rented 68-square-metre flat in the Toumba district of Thessaloniki, paying €500 a month in rent.

She nevertheless acknowledged purchasing a Louis Vuitton handbag and staying in hotel suites on two occasions.

€2.6 million placed in online bets

According to the indictment, Firinidis had engaged in extensive gambling activity, placing approximately €2.6 million in bets through online bookmakers and receiving payouts exceeding €2 million.

Meanwhile, Greece’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority has frozen assets belonging to the principal defendants as investigators examine betting transactions worth millions of euros and funds identified in Luxembourg.

The financial investigation is focusing on the movement of charitable donations and the extent to which money raised for seriously ill children was diverted from its intended purpose.

Defence disputes the amount allegedly embezzled

Konstantinos Tsakos, the lawyer representing both Firinidis and Manisioti, previously stated that the 37-year-old intended to accept his share of responsibility.

However, the lawyer stressed that there remained a dispute over the actual amount of money that had not been passed on to the families.

While prosecutors allege that €2.9 million was embezzled, Manisioti has claimed the figure was no more than €900,000, and Firinidis has now put the amount at between €400,000 and €600,000.

Both defendants remain in pre-trial detention as the judicial investigation continues.