Top prosecutor Grigoris Peponis on Monday ordered a preliminary investigation into claims by a former employee of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), Zoe Georganta, according to which Greece’s deficit for 2009 was artificially inflated so the country could qualify for a bailout.

Court of first instance prosecutor Popi Papandreou has been tasked with investigating whether there any grounds to Georganta’s claims and whether crimes have been committed at the expense of the Greek economy. Former economy minister George Papaconstantinou (who is now environment and energy minister) said Georganta’s credibility had been undermined by parallel claims of hers that Greece is under German occupation.

Source: Kathimerini