The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has summoned sixteen individuals as suspects to testify regarding the payment of approximately €3 million in compensation to the company TOMI, a member of the consortium awarded the unfinished railway contract 717.
The case concerns the approval and signing of the compensation, despite the fact that the signaling project under the contract was never completed.
The sixteen individuals, who are representatives of ERGOSE and the company involved, are suspected of being complicit in breach of trust to the detriment of the financial interests of both the European Union and the Greek state.
According to sources, they are accused of playing a role in former minister of infrastructure and transport Kostas Karamanlis’s decision to authorize the compensation in January 2021.
ERGOSE employees are reported to have issued a favorable recommendation in support of compensating the company.
In 2023, a parliamentary investigative committee decided not to bring breach of trust charges against Karamanlis in connection with this particular case.
Once the suspects provide their testimonies, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office will decide whether to pursue criminal prosecution.
Contract 717 has been at the center of public scrutiny following the Tempe disaster, as it concerns the railway signaling system. Many experts have noted that, had the project been completed, the tragedy could have been prevented.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has already filed serious charges of fraud and breach of trust against 23 individuals in connection with the delays. Those charged include former and current executives from the consortium, ERGOSE, and the Ministry of Transport — all of whom were responsible for implementing the project.