For a second session, the testimony of former OPEKEPE president Grigoris Varras continues in the trial of former organization executives Dimitris Melas and Athanasia Reppa for joint document theft, joint criminal harboring by repetition, and joint breach of duty by continuation at misdemeanor level. Mr. Varras appeared convinced in his testimony that fraud has been committed by producers against OPEKEPE.
OPEKEPE trial: “Barrage” of questions from the bench
The witness faced a “barrage” of questions from the bench regarding technical and other operational issues of payments during the period he headed the organization, as well as about his relationship with the prime minister.
Mr. Varras said that he has been connected with Mr. Mitsotakis by a long-standing friendship since 2000 “before he got involved in politics”.
President: You told us that when you went to the prime minister, you didn’t discuss OPEKEPE. Why didn’t you discuss it?
Witness: We didn’t have any discussion, perhaps for my protection. He didn’t want to put me in a difficult position.
Prosecutor: You said you are friends with the Prime Minister. Is it possible to have someone as a friend, who takes me to his office after my resignation and we don’t have any discussion about OPEKEPE?
Witness: Your question is reasonable. There was another way of handling it. When I became his advisor, there were critical issues he had to manage, there was Covid then, the flows from Evros… In my speech, I’m not the person who will go complain. I didn’t come here to tell either excuses or lies.
Prosecutor: From 2020 until today 2026, didn’t it happen that you discussed anything about the OPEKEPE part?
Witness: No. Mr. Voridis was appointed deputy minister to the prime minister. What should I go and say?
Prosecutor: So are you friends or acquaintances?
Witness: I consider the prime minister my friend.
Referring to the organization’s operation, the witness estimated that the way the KYD Coordination Body functioned, combined with inadequate controls, created margins for fraud phenomena. In fact, he presented a document according to which, after his departure, land allocation was made to 14 tax numbers, four of which had already been referred to Justice as suspicious. As he noted, these specific cases have already led to conviction decisions at first instance.
Finally, Mr. Varras revealed that he was recently informed about a lawsuit against him by Neuropublic company, OPEKEPE’s technical consultant, for false testimony.
He characterized this action as an indirect threat, pointing out the financial imbalance between himself and the company, while connecting the development with a broader climate of fear that, as he argued, prevailed among the organization’s employees.
