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Greek prosecutor orders birth certificates inquiry over Maria case Greek prosecutor orders birth certificates inquiry over Maria case
(35 minutes later)
A top prosecutor in Greece has ordered a nationwide investigation into birth certificates issued since January 2008 after a girl was discovered living with alleged abductors at a Greek Roma camp.A top prosecutor in Greece has ordered a nationwide investigation into birth certificates issued since January 2008 after a girl was discovered living with alleged abductors at a Greek Roma camp.
Supreme court prosecutor Efterpi Koutzamani ordered the inquiry amid reports of benefit fraud by families declaring births in multiple regions. Experts have used the case to point out weaknesses in the country's birth registration system.Supreme court prosecutor Efterpi Koutzamani ordered the inquiry amid reports of benefit fraud by families declaring births in multiple regions. Experts have used the case to point out weaknesses in the country's birth registration system.
A Greek couple were on remanded into custody on charges of abduction and document fraud in the case of the girl known only as Maria. The girl, believed to be 5 or 6, was taken into protective care last week after DNA tests established the couple were not her biological parents. A Greek couple were remanded into custody on charges of abduction and document fraud in the case of the girl known only as Maria. The girl, believed to be five or six, was taken into protective care last week after DNA tests established the couple were not her biological parents.
The girl's DNA was entered into a database held by the international law enforcement agency Interpol to check for matches.The girl's DNA was entered into a database held by the international law enforcement agency Interpol to check for matches.
On Monday, the mayor of Athens ordered the suspension of three officials in charge of record-keeping. New parents have three months to declare their newborns. Investigators in the Greek capital found a large number of babies had been recently declared at or near the end of that deadline, raising concerns that some were multiple declarations to claim benefits. On Monday the mayor of Athens ordered the suspension of three officials in charge of record-keeping. New parents have three months to declare their newborns. Investigators in the Greek capital found a large number of babies had been recently declared at or near the end of that deadline, raising concerns that some were multiple declarations to claim benefits.
The two suspects in the Maria case, aged 39 and 40, deny the abduction charges, claiming they received the child from a destitute woman to bring up as their own.The two suspects in the Maria case, aged 39 and 40, deny the abduction charges, claiming they received the child from a destitute woman to bring up as their own.
Authorities allege the female suspect claimed to have given birth to six children in less than 10 months, while 10 of the 14 children the couple had registered as their own are unaccounted for.Authorities allege the female suspect claimed to have given birth to six children in less than 10 months, while 10 of the 14 children the couple had registered as their own are unaccounted for.
Police say the two suspects received about €2,500 (£2,100) a month in subsidies from three different cities.Police say the two suspects received about €2,500 (£2,100) a month in subsidies from three different cities.
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