Two prosecutors, along with 20 police officers, arrived at OPEKEPE at 9:30 a.m. on May 19 but were obstructed from accessing the data requested, according to EPPO.
OPEKEPE employees said they were unable to provide the data owing to the absence of technical advisers. After several hours, the prosecutors requested affidavits from employees confirming their inability to comply, which they refused to sign. The prosecutors asked OPEKEPE’s President Nikos Salatas to sign an affidavit or face arrest for obstructing justice, EPPO said.
He ultimately cooperated, and the prosecutors finally left OPEKEPE at 4 a.m. the next day with everything they needed, according to EPPO.
While this clash was under way in the building, OPEKEPE issued a statement asserting full cooperation with the investigation. The next day EPPO issued a strongly worded statement accusing the agency of not cooperating and suggested possible systematic fraudulent practices that involved OPEKEPE officials.
“Gathering digital evidence at the headquarters of OPEKEPE proved particularly challenging and was significantly delayed until 4:00 this morning,” EPPO said.
In response, OPEKEPE demanded that EPPO retract its allegations within 48 hours, threatening legal action to protect its reputation. Shortly afterward, the Ministry of Rural Development announced Salatas’ dismissal, citing the public interest. Salatas, who had been in his post since January, publicly refused to resign, claiming he was defending the organization’s integrity. He was sacked late on Friday.
