Dozens of Greek livestock farmers have been charged with fraud for falsely claiming EU agricultural subsidies, causing an estimated €2.9 million in losses. Investigators say the suspects submitted fake land ownership and lease documents to secure funds from EU agricultural programs. The cases will go to trial in Greece in March and May, with the accused facing up to five years in prison and hefty fines.
Tag: prison sentence
A Melbourne woman has been sentenced to 16 years in prison in Taiwan for smuggling 7kg of cocaine and heroin. Debbie Voulgaris, 58, maintains her innocence, claiming she was tricked by her ex-husband. Her family is fighting for her release, arguing she was manipulated and unknowingly transported the drugs. The case highlights the harsh penalties for drug offenses in Taiwan and the devastating impact on families.
Federal prosecutors have recommended a 15-year prison sentence for former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez following his conviction on corruption charges. This unprecedented case marks the first time a senator has been found guilty of abusing a leadership role in a Senate committee and acting as a foreign agent while in office, underscoring the gravity of his actions and setting a potential new standard for prosecuting political misconduct.
A 31-year-old Greek man of Ukrainian descent has been sentenced for espionage after being caught photographing Thessaloniki’s ‘Makedonia’ International Airport on December 23. Despite signs banning photography in restricted areas, he was observed taking pictures of airport facilities. The court handed him an 18-month prison sentence, converted to a daily fine of 10 euros, along with an additional 1,000-euro penalty. He was acquitted of entering a forbidden zone. The case has raised concerns about airport security.
Turkish-Australian celebrity chef Somer Sivrioglu has been sentenced to more than five years in prison…
Two Russian traffickers have been sentenced to a total of 380 years in prison and fined €3.8 million for smuggling 74 illegal immigrants into Greece. The migrants, including children, were discovered on a sailboat near Astypalaia in September 2023. The traffickers were found guilty of endangering lives and illegally transporting the migrants for profit. This significant ruling underscores Greece’s commitment to combating human trafficking in the Mediterranean.
A Tirana court has ordered the release of Fredi Beleri, a newly elected MEP, who has served two-thirds of his prison sentence for alleged vote-buying during the 2023 Himara mayoral election. The court’s decision requires Beleri to maintain regular communication with authorities, though he does not need to appear in person.
Fredis Beleris, an ethnic Greek member of Albania’s minority community, returned to prison on Saturday after a five-day reprieve to attend the opening session of the European Parliament. Beleris, who was elected to represent Greece’s New Democracy party, is serving a two-year prison sentence for vote-buying in municipal elections last year. Despite his election to the European Parliament, Albania’s non-EU status means he does not benefit from parliamentary immunity.
Nikos Michaloliakos, the founder of the criminal organisation Golden Dawn, is set to return to…