Alex Rondos joins seven more accused in trial over “International Centre for Demining” NGO

The Three-member Court of Felony Appeals will be holding a hearing on the case of NGO “International Centre for Demining”. The hearing will include a total of eight members, including Alex Rondos, formerly a close associate of former PM George Papandreou. Their trial was decided by the Athens Board of Appeals.

The case concerns the NGO’s actions for mine clearance in Bosnia, Iraq and Lebanon. The organization seems to have illegally received over nine million euros. According to the edict, Mr. Rondos’ involvement is due to him being an active member of the Foreign Affairs ministry between July 2002 and January 2003. He ran the International Developmental Cooperation Services of the Ministry, which funds NGOs.

The names of those who will be put on the stand before the Court are: Konstantinos Jevelekos, Alexander-George Rondos, Nikolaos Tsamados, Nikolaos Bazas, Evangelos Rigakos, Aphrodite Kostoyanni – Kokkori. Georgia Limberi, Maria-Anastasia Makrinioti.

According to the ordinance, the accused will be tried on the offense of repeated fraud and attempting to procure illegal pecuniary advantages by causing damage to the detriment of the Public. The accused, except for Mr. Jevelekos and Mrs. Makrinioti are facing charges of repeated false certifications, as well as infidelity towards their sworn service. Konstantinos Jevelekos will be tried for direct involvement on the abovementioned charges as well as illegal possession of a firearm and laundering money. Mrs. Makrinioti also faces charges of money laundering. Nikolaos Bazas is charged for repeated forgery.

According to the indictment, the funding of the NGO was done without the supervision and adherence of the law, related embassies’ signatures, composition of project planning and results. It was done without any substantial financial participation on the part of the NGO, which was also illegal, since it did not fall under the auspices of humanitarian aid, which would have -in turn- justified the funding of the project. The funds were allocated between 2000 and 2004 and were finally appropriated for other purposes.

It should be noted that a statute rejected the appeal for the release of K. Jevelekos. The warrant of provisional detention has been extended by six months. The restrictive conditions which were imposed on the rest of the accused are also still in effect.

The accused are exempted from singular, specific acts which took place between 2002 and 2004.