Greece: Police officer assigned to refugee centre convicted in EPPO’s first verdict in Greek courts

(Luxembourg, 6 November 2023) – A police officer posted at a refugee centre was convicted of forgery last week, in the first verdict in Greek courts of a case investigated and prosecuted by the European Public Prosecutor Office’s (EPPO) in Athens (Greece).

On 31 October 2023, the Court of First Instance of Athens found the police lieutenant guilty of submitting fake receipts, during the course of his service, for travel and accommodation expenses – covered by the EU’s Internal Security Fund (ISF) – that had never been incurred. He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 3 years, and a fine of 400 daily units (€10 per daily unit).

The public official performed duties in the framework of the action ‘Strengthening police services with personnel to provide security services at the reception and identification centres of the East Aegean Islands’, funded by the EU. The receipts were allegedly issued by a hotel on the Greek island of Kos, where the police officer had been assigned to work. He was accused of having used a false stamp and forged signature of the service provider. The forged expenses amounted to €12 000.

This is the first EPPO conviction in Greece since the start of its operations in June 2021.

The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.