\n<\/p>\n
Greece\u2019s anti-money laundering authority has reportedly traced about \u20ac300,000 in Luxembourg through PayPal accounts linked to Paidiki Hara (Children\u2019s Joy), a Thessaloniki NGO under investigation over its fundraising for children with cancer.<\/p>\n
The head of the authority, former Supreme Court deputy prosecutor Charalambos Vourliotis, has also frozen the assets of the defendants, including property in the Thessaloniki area.<\/p>\n
The freeze covers bank accounts, safe deposit boxes and property belonging to the NGO\u2019s founder, Konstantinos Firinidis, 37, and his partner, Vasiliki Manisioti, 35.<\/p>\n
Both are accused of embezzling \u20ac2.9 million. Manisioti was remanded in custody on Tuesday after testifying before an investigating magistrate in Thessaloniki, the papers reported.<\/p>\n
Ta Nea reported that she blamed Firinidis entirely and admitted to part of the embezzlement, but disputed the \u20ac2.9 million figure, claiming the real amount was between \u20ac800,000 and \u20ac900,000.<\/p>\n
Three other suspects, her 32-year-old brother, a referee and an official of a local sports club, were released on restrictive conditions, according to Ta Nea.<\/p>\n
According to the investigation, donations were allegedly diverted to personal accounts, betting transactions and companies linked to the organisation\u2019s leadership, Kathimerini reported.<\/p>\n
Investigators have identified 92 fundraising campaigns run by the charity involving 55 children. While the families reportedly received about \u20ac1.12 million, the NGO recorded total donations of \u20ac3.99 million.<\/p>\n
The case came to light last week, when police announced six arrests following an operation by the Hellenic Police\u2019s Northern Greece economic crime unit on 30 October. Police alleged at the time that the group had been active since at least 2018 and had posted social media appeals for children with serious illnesses, mainly cancer.<\/p>\n
The allegations have not been tested in court, and all suspects are presumed innocent.<\/p>\n
Donors who can prove with receipts or other records that frozen funds belong to them will be able to claim them.<\/p>\n
Proto Thema reported that this could include papers or emails confirming that a donor paid money to the NGO.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n