Former Rhodes Mayor Antonis Kampourakis will go on trial before the Athens Court of Appeal on Oct. 8, accused of unlawfully granting a beach concession to a shop located within a protected historic site without required approval from Greece's Culture Ministry.
Prosecutors allege that on June 30, 2023, Mr. Kampourakis and an official from Greece's public property management agency signed a direct concession agreement with a business representative leasing 439 square meters of shoreline — 373 square meters for umbrellas and sunbeds and 66 square meters for table seating — in front of the business's premises.
The site sits within a historic preservation zone protected under ministerial decisions from 1983 and 1987, and prosecutors say no leasing permit was obtained from the Culture Ministry's antiquities service, as required.
Prosecutors characterize the alleged offense as a case of misconduct in office, arguing Mr. Kampourakis and the property official acted jointly to benefit the business owner, who faces charges of moral complicity for allegedly pressuring officials to proceed with the arrangement. Under normal circumstances the misdemeanor charge would be heard in a lower court, but the case moves to the Court of Appeal due to Mr. Kampourakis's official status at the time of the alleged offense.
Mr. Kampourakis has denied wrongdoing, arguing the municipality merely handled administrative procedures under a cooperation agreement with the property management agency, which he says determined the specific locations and terms of use, while the municipality only set the usage fee.
He contends neither fraudulent intent nor unlawful benefit can be established.