The information coming to light every day regarding the activities of the NGO “Pediatric Playground,” which, according to the case file, raked in millions of euros under the guise of helping sick children.
Luxurious tastes, exorbitantly expensive trips, a lavish lifestyle, and even “allowances” of thousands of euros for their nieces and nephews make up the puzzle of the fraud allegedly orchestrated by the organization’s founder.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In addition to the NGO’s founder—who is identified by the authorities as the ringleader— his 35-year-old wife also played a significant role; she served as the administrator and is believed to have acted as deputy leader.
SKAI.gr is publishing revealing dialogues from the voluminous case file in which the 35-year-old requests a suite at an extremely expensive hotel; when the employee tells her the cost, she calmly assures him that she’s aware of it, since they stay at that ultra-luxurious hotel all the time.
35-year-old woman: I’d like to make a reservation.
Clerk: For when?
35-year-old woman: I’d like—I’d like November 1st, November 2nd, checking out on the 3rd.
Clerk: Are you with a company, or are you a private guest?
35-year-old woman: We’re regulars here—just check this (she mentions the owner’s name)
. Clerk: Okay, just a moment—are you looking for a double room? Will there be two of you?
35-year-old woman: We always book a suite—the Niarchos.
Employee: Just a moment, let me check. Give me a moment. Can you hear me?
35-year-old woman: Of course.
Employee: Yes, sorry to keep you waiting—the Junior Suite is available.
35-year-old woman: Okay.
Clerk: It’s 410 euros with breakfast, plus 15 euros for the climate change tax.
35-year-old woman: Okay, yes, we know that—I’m telling you.
Employee: Oh, great.
35-year-old woman: We come here all the time, which is why I asked you to check our name so you’d know which room we always book.
Employee: Great.
35-year-old woman: (mentions the owner’s name)
Employee: Great.
Elsewhere in the case file, the 35-year-old speaks with a relative, telling her that she isn’t interested in money since she has given thousands of euros to her nieces and nephews.
35-year-old woman to a relative: I don’t care about money; you know that very well when it comes to my nephews. I gave them 50 grand—do you think I care about money?
Of course, the 35-year-old couldn’t travel in economy class—only in business class—even though the invoice would go to the NGO.
35-year-old woman: Well, I have half a minute to be polite, so don’t even give me that crap because I’m telling you—this is the first time I’ll be flying (unintelligible)—I always fly BUSINESS. I have two suitcases—one weighing eight kilos, the other seven and six—whatever—and my son has a backpack.
Airline employee: Great, your total here with the “LIGHT” fare is 547 euros and 86 cents, including the seats.
35-year-old woman: Is that the final amount? Okay.
Airline employee: That’s the final amount, indeed.
35-year-old woman: Okay, okay, okay, okay. I want to pay for it.
Airline employee: Would you like me to send you a link to your email for payment?
35-year-old woman: No, can’t we just pay by card right now?
Airline employee: We can. You told me you wanted to issue an invoice?
35-year-old woman: Is that possible?
Airline employee: Yes, of course it is.
35-year-old woman: Great.
A lover of the good life and luxury accommodations, the 37-year-old main defendant, the founder of an NGO, is identified in the case file as the leader of the organization, as evidenced by his revealing conversations with an employee of a luxury hotel.
37-year-old: For you, I’d like to ask, um, I’m a customer first of all; I come here very often.
Hotel employee: Great.
37-year-old: I usually take the suite on the 2nd floor—or is it the 1st?
Hotel employee: Yes.
37-year-old: The corner one. Um, since I’m from Thessaloniki and need a half-day stay, is that possible?
Hotel employee: You mean day use?
37-year-old: Yeah, to come in for a few hours, right now, for example.
Hotel employee: Yes. Oh, for now. Look, um, for now, um, you can use the room until six; otherwise, if you want to stay, say, until eight, we’ll have to book the room for a full night.
37-year-old: Yeah. Uh.
Hotel employee: Hmm.
37-year-old: How much does that cost?
Hotel employee: Uh, give me a half-minute. I need your full name to look up your profile, like you told me.
37-year-old: He gives his
full name. Hotel employee: What did you say your last name was?
37-year-old: He gives his
full name. Hotel clerk: He gives his
full name. 37-year-old: He gives his
full name. Hotel clerk: Great. I see you’re looking at the Deluxe Suite for today. How many people?
37-year-old: Well, two.
Hotel employee: Well, then, give me a half-minute. The suite comes to 480; let me just see if we can give you a better rate.
37-year-old: I’d like
a suite with a view of the garden. Hotel clerk: Give me a minute. Which meal are you interested in?
37-year-old: Uh.
Hotel employee: I recommend breakfast and dinner.
37-year-old: Breakfast and dinner.
Hotel employee: What time will you arrive?
37-year-old: Well, I’ll arrive around five-thirty, give or take. Five?
Hotel employee: It’s worth it to have dinner between 6:30 and 9:00.
37-year-old: Yes.
Hotel employee: That’ll be 487 euros.
37-year-old: Great, uh, here you go. I’ll definitely be there. Is there any way I can pay in cash?
The 37-year-old also had a revealing conversation with the maître d’ at a large nightclub featuring bouzouki music. During their conversation, they reserve a table but also…
Maître d’: First off. Um, what do you want to put on the tab? A thousand? Hey, let me tell you—should I put a thousand on the drink tab?
37-year-old: Yeah.
Waiter: Should I make the drink a thousand?
37-year-old: Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Waiter: And the flowers—whatever you say.
37-year-old: Great, and 500 for you?
Waiter: Okay, whatever you want.
37-year-old: Yeah, honey. Great.
Waiter: Great. All right?
37-year-old: It’ll just be us—I’m not bringing a whole group there now, I don’t feel like it—uh, there’ll be three or four of us.
Waiter: Three or four guys sitting in the back with women. Or come on, do you want women or not?
37-year-old: I do. Last time we really messed up, man…
Waiter: Hahahahaha.
37-year-old: Hahahaha.
Source: skai.gr
