New evidence is emerging in the fraud case against Greece’s social security fund (e-EFKA), casting a damning spotlight on Filippos Kampouris and his wife, who are alleged to have been the ringleaders of the operation. As has been revealed, both the television presenter and LAOS party leader and his wife declared themselves “employees” and collected Covid-19 relief payments. Meanwhile, explosive witness testimonies, recorded conversations between alleged accomplices, and workers’ complaints are shedding new light on a criminal network that operated through the creation and management of shell companies and legitimate businesses, accumulating debts to the social security fund (EFKA) and the tax authority (AADE) exceeding €5.35 million.
Evidence that implicates Filippos Kampouris: What a frontman reveals
According to an investigation, Filippos Kampouris is the true owner of several nightclubs that appeared to belong to frontmen, accountants, and businesspeople. Well-known artists have also testified that all deals were made exclusively with the LAOS party leader himself.
One frontman, speaking to Mega TV, revealed that Kampouris had offered to pay his rent in exchange for signing documents for his shell companies. This was one of 29 companies — the majority of which were fictitious — with the same frontman appearing as a participant in 23 of them. His testimony proved highly incriminating for Filippos Kampouris.
“From 2009 to 2013 I was homeless and living on the streets. Then, in 2014, Filippos contacted me and […] suggested that I help him with some companies — just sign some paperwork — and in return he would pay my rent so I had a place to live. I had only finished primary school, and Filippos seemed like a decent person to me, so I trusted him. […] From that point on, I signed whatever he asked me to,” he said of the TV presenter and LAOS party leader.
The explosive conversations between criminal network members
Further light is being shed on the case by conversations between members of the alleged criminal organization, as revealed by Mega TV. In a series of messages, a 59-year-old network member expressed deep frustration over not receiving money from Filippos Kampouris.
- Friend: What are you expecting from Filippos?
- 59-year-old network member: Nothing — I just want to get my money, damn it
- Friend: Ah…
- 59-year-old network member: The money — screw his house!
- Friend: I see.
- 59-year-old network member: Call me on the other number, can you?
He thought he was speaking to an accountant — but it was Kampouris’ wife on the line
Another conversation has also come to light — this time between a victim of the network and Filippos Kampouris’ wife, who has also been arrested in connection with the case and is currently being held at the Athens Police Headquarters (GADA).
The victim is an employee of a grill restaurant in Kallithea that Filippos Kampouris suddenly shut down overnight, just before his arrest. Speaking to Mega TV, the man revealed that after being let go, he tried to claim his unpaid wages by calling what he believed was the restaurant’s accounting office — not realizing he was actually speaking with the accused wife.
“He withheld our wages so we couldn’t leave”
“He did it to all of us — he withheld our wages so we couldn’t leave. He left us unpaid for a month and a half. We lost our money, and I can’t even pay my rent. It amounts to about two, two-and-a-half thousand euros in overnight shifts. The business suddenly shut down, I want to find a new job, but no official dismissal has been issued — it looks like I’m still listed as an active employee. I went to apply for work and they told me, ‘It shows you’re currently employed — you can’t work more than three hours,'” he told Mega TV.
He then recounted the conversation he had with Kampouris’ wife, believing he was speaking with an accountant:
Employee: If it’s a matter for the accountant, I should mention that I haven’t even officially been dismissed, as far as I know. And the money — I haven’t received a single month’s salary. Can you let Mr. Kampouris know?
Kampouris’ wife (posing as accountant): We have no business relationship with anyone by the name of Kampouris.
“Black bags of goods would arrive at strange hours, with no paperwork. One employee was working 12 hours a day, six days a week. In the seven years the place was operating, not a single inspector ever came through — not from the Labour Inspectorate, I’m 100% certain of that. We all used to say, ‘What connections must this guy have to operate the way he does?’ What was going on in there was complete lawlessness,” a complaint submitted to Mega TV reads.
Filippos Kampouris is expected to appear in court on Sunday (11/10) to answer five felony charges and one misdemeanor, with the defendant reportedly acknowledging debts only to the social security fund (EFKA).
It is worth noting that on Thursday afternoon, the TV presenter and LAOS party leader was transferred to Genimatas Hospital after feeling unwell while being held in the GADA detention cells and losing consciousness. Prior to fainting, he told officers, “I’m having a stroke,” reporting numbness in his hands, legs, and head.
