House reveals costs
Greece’s Parliament has for the first time published details showing how much taxpayer money is spent on its foundation for promoting parliamentarianism and democracy. According to the data made public, the foundation, which was established in 2003, had a budget of 2 million euros in 2012 and aims to spend 1.8 million euros this year. Of this, 850,000 euros is taxpayers’ money. It employs 27 people. The total wage bill last year was 592,000 euros. This year, it will fall to 480,000. Kathimerini understands that the monthly wage is 4,000 euros gross.
Drug arrest.
An employee of the Athens Public Prosecutor’s Office was taken into custody on Saturday in the region of Thesprotia, northwestern Greece, on drug possession charges. According to reports, the suspect had allegedly loaded a state-registered vehicle with approximately 150 kilos of hashish in the area of Sagiada, before being followed by narcotics officers to the village of Nea Selefkeia, where he was arrested.
Stations closed.
Aghios Antonios metro station in Athens will be closed to the public this weekend due to a series of signalling system tests scheduled in view of the upcoming opening of two new metro stations in the areas of Peristeri and Anthoupoli. Aghios Dimitrios metro station will also be closed from 12.30 a.m. to 2.30 a.m. on Saturday, with trains terminating at Dafni.
Farmers’ scam.
The Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) is widening an investigation into the use of bogus invoices by farmers in Thebes, north of Attica, because of suspicion that agriculturalists in other parts of the country were also engaging in the practice to reclaim value-added tax they had not paid. Kathimerini understands that SDOE officials believe that between 300 and 400 farmers in Thebes issued invoices worth about 100 million euros between 2005 and 2008 for products they had not produced or sold in order to claim back the VAT, worth 11 percent of the total. In one case a Thebes farmer invoiced a trader in Preveza for 1.4 million euros’ worth of onions. Inspectors said this was enough produce to feed the whole of Epirus.
Skouries mine.
Police in Thessaloniki on Saturday denied that Halkidiki residents’ rights were being abused as part of the investigation into the attack on the Skouries gold mine. In a statement, the police insisted that its investigation was lawful and “absolutely respectful of human rights.” On Friday, lawyers representing some of the residents questioned by officers accused the police of taking DNA samples from their clients without explanation or pressing charges.