The Panagopoulos case has triggered a domino effect of developments with six individuals now under investigation. Among those allegedly involved, the central figure is GSEE trade union leader Yiannis Panagopoulos, along with five other individuals who acted either personally or through their participation in the aforementioned companies. According to sources, the six people under investigation are GSEE’s Yiannis Panagopoulos and G.S., K.S., journalist Giorgos Kakousis, A.M., and Andreas Georgiou, who is the husband of Anna Stratinak.
The Yiannis Panagopoulos case has many ramifications, according to the Big Mouth column of powergame.gr. One of these relates – as the column wrote on Friday morning before the latest revelation – to a Cypriot businessman, Andreas Georgiou, who “had appeared in Greece as something like a national archivist. This particular individual, who was calling the shots from 2019 until 2024, had become known to the general public (among other things) from his cohabitation with the almost lifelong (also originating from PASOK) former general secretary of the Ministry of Labor, Anna Stratinak”.
According to information, the six companies under investigation operate in communications, graphic arts, printing, audiovisual products, software, cybersecurity and advertising.
The Anti-Money Laundering Authority examined the activities of these specific individuals and their controlled companies regarding the management of national and European funds during the provision of educational training services. The investigation focused on funding exceeding a total of 73 million euros, received during the five-year period 2020-2025 from European and national resources. Of the 73 million euros, 2.1 million euros were identified as suspected embezzlement.
Panagopoulos case: Anna Stratinak’s resignation
The publication of the case brought today the resignation of Anna Stratinak from her position as deputy governor of the Independent Market Control Authority, as her husband is allegedly involved in the case and is one of the persons whose accounts have been frozen.
In an announcement, the Ministry of Development stated: “Ms. Anna Stratinak will not be appointed to the position of deputy governor of the Independent Market Control Authority in the field of the Consumer Ombudsman, as she submitted her resignation for family health reasons, as she states in her letter”.
Journalist Giorgos Kakousis suspended
Journalist Giorgos Kakousis from ERT is also allegedly involved in the case, whose contract with ERT was suspended today until the investigation is completed.
The well-known journalist presented a daily news program on ERT News, but today he did not appear on set – in fact, his name had been removed from the opening credits of the show. He also did not present today’s radio show for which he was a producer.
As with the other involved parties, the ERT journalist’s bank accounts were also seized as part of the investigation.
In his own statement he says:
“Two days ago I was informed that my bank accounts were seized, excluding my salary account, by order of the President of the Authority for the Legitimization of Income from Criminal Activities. Until this moment I have not received knowledge of the content of the Order nor was I given the opportunity to provide clarifications. From my colleagues I learned that the Order presents me as suspected of committing criminal offenses in connection with my cooperation with INE GSEE. From the beginning I would like to clarify that all my transactions, from beginning to end and without exception, have a legal cause, are absolutely transparent and verifiable. They are absolutely connected with the provision of specific Work, which relates exclusively to Communication Services and not to any Educational or other similar work. It is understood that this personal ordeal will suspend my journalistic activity for as long as required for the clarification of the case. In the 32 years of my journalistic career, no one has ever associated me with illegal pursuits and practices. In our field we all know each other and now that we will be reintroduced, no one will be disappointed!”, writes the journalist.
Who is Anna Stratinak
Anna Stratinak is a lawyer at the Supreme Court and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Athens Bar Association from 2008 to 2011, while she was a member of the Scientific Committee of the Athens Bar Association as well as a member of the Hellenic Society of Private International Law.
She served as General Secretary of Labor of the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Welfare from March 18, 2011 to March 17, 2015.
She has served as legal advisor in various positions in Public Administration (General Secretariat of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization, Ministry of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping, Ministry of Labor and Social Security).
From July 8, 2019 to August 1, 2024, she was General Secretary of Labor, and later Labor Relations of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
The Panagopoulos case
The case came to light yesterday afternoon when it became known that the head of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, former deputy prosecutor of the Supreme Court, Charalambos Vourlioti, froze bank accounts, safe deposit boxes and shares of GSEE trade union leader Yiannis Panagopoulos and five other individuals and six companies, up to the amount of 2.1 million euros.
Following an investigation by the Authority, the trade unionist and the other individuals are allegedly involved in a case of embezzlement of funds-financing from the Greek State and the European Union.
Evidence for two felonies in the report was forwarded to the prosecutor
Mr. Vourlioti’s report has been forwarded to the competent prosecutor with evidence for two felonies, those of embezzlement and legitimization of income from illegal activities.
What the investigation found
Specifically, there are serious indications that the trade unionist and other involved parties proceeded to embezzle monetary capital that came from grants and subsidies from the Greek State and the European Union.
Furthermore, the Authority’s investigation found that some of the companies showed no activity at all, lacked the necessary material and technical infrastructure and personnel for project implementation, and part of the funds were undertaken directly in cash, which according to the Authority shows they had the role of shell companies.
The amounts under investigation
According to the Authority, this practice is estimated to have been followed to give credibility and legitimacy to transactions worth at least 577,000 euros for allegedly providing services by the companies, which constitutes artificial movement of capital and systematic concealment of the actual disposal of contract resources.
Additionally, extensive transfers of monetary amounts to individual accounts of connected individuals lacking legal justification were identified, as well as repeated cash withdrawals exceeding 1.5 million euros that demonstrate the methodical concealment of the origin and final appropriation of the funds.
These withdrawals create, according to the Authority, serious suspicions that the amounts ultimately came into the possession of the investigated trade unionist and other investigated persons.
