IKA ‘fraudsters’ to be given conditional release
Six of the seven defendants accused of defrauding the Social Security Foundation (IKA) out of millions of euros in a massive fraud scam are to be given conditional release next month, when they are scheduled to complete the maximum of 18 months in pretrial custody, following a decision issued on Thursday by the Council of Appeals Court Judges.
The suspects, all women, are forbidden from leaving the country and must report to their local police station six times a month.
An eighth suspected member of the fraud racket – a 43-year-old man – died in court on Tuesday after suffering a stroke.
The suspects are alleged to have illegally assigned benefits to people insured with the fund before pocketing a cut of the money for themselves.
They face a string of charges including membership of a criminal gang, fraud, embezzlement and money laundering.
