The Athens Public Prosecutor’s Office for the Court of First Instance today filed serious criminal charges for five felonies and one misdemeanor against TV host and LAOS party president Filippos Kampouris, his wife, and his co-defendants.
Specifically, those arrested in connection with this major case are being charged with:
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- leading a criminal organization
- membership in and formation of a criminal organization
- fraud against a legal entity amounting to more than 120,000 euros, committed repeatedly and in concert with others
- aiding and abetting fraud against a legal entity amounting to more than 120,000 euros
- laundering of proceeds from a criminal organization, as a profession (money laundering) and for
- failure to pay employer and employee contributions on time (misdemeanor)
Following the filing of charges, the defendants were referred to an investigating judge, from whom they have the right to request and be granted time limits to prepare their defenses.
Until then, they will remain in custody.
Earlier, while being transported from the Athens Police Headquarters to Evelpidon, Kampouris was heard stating: “I am innocent; I do not accept the charges; this is a frame-up.”
According to the evidence, the ring had set up approximately 25 companies, including advertising agencies, restaurants, nightclubs, and clothing stores, which it used as a “front” to defraud the e-EFKA.
Hellenic Police (ELAS) spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou commented on the ring’s modus operandi: “It took several months for us to realize that fictitious companies were being set up under the names of straw men on top of real companies.”
Regarding how the authorities uncovered the case, Ms. Dimoglidou told SKAI that this happened when a formal complaint was filed by an employee who noticed suspicious activity regarding her payment from a company owned by Filippos Kampou.
“When the time came for them to pay the amount to EFKA and the tax office, the company would vanish,” she explained.
The total loss incurred by the government is estimated to exceed 5 million euros, of which more than 1.5 million euros relate to e-EFKA.
Under the “microscope” of the investigations is a scheme that, according to the evidence gathered so far, was primarily designed to leave behind millions of euros in social security debts.
Source: Proto Thema
