Specifically, according to the report by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), a conviction is being sought for a total of five engineers from Egnatia Odos and two representatives of the contracting construction company (including its legal representative and one engineer).
The felony charges for which they are being prosecuted relate to offenses committed during 2008–2009 and include, depending on the case, fraud and breach of trust against Egnatia Odos S.A. (a private legal entity, with the indictment amended from fraud and breach of trust against the State), attempted fraud against the property of the European Union, document forgery, and false certification, as well as instigation in some of the above acts.
Conversely, the prosecutor’s recommendation requests acquittal for eight former executives and members of previous boards of Egnatia Odos.
In total, for this particular project involving five twin tunnels in the Grevena region, 18 individuals were referred to trial by a decision of the competent Judicial Council—three of whom have since passed away. The investigation originated from a criminal complaint filed with the then Anti-Corruption Prosecutor by the successor management of the company.
The ongoing trial, which has been in progress for several months, will continue with the presentations of both the prosecution and defense counsel. The court’s verdict is expected next month.
It is also worth noting that a second case is pending before the criminal courts of Thessaloniki, concerning cost overruns on works in another section of the same motorway. Many of the accused individuals are common to both cases, and the cost overruns in this matter exceed €40 million, according to the indictment.
