ATHENS — The public prosecutors' office on Monday launched an investigation into allegations made in the social media and various media articles that non-governmental organisations caring for unaccompanied children were involved in the case of former National Theatre director Dimitris Lignadis during the period 2017-2018.

The head of the first-instance court prosecutors, Sotiria Papageorgakopoulou, has ordered the investigation of all articles and posts claiming that the NGOs responsible for running shelters for unaccompanied refugee and migrant children at that time arranged for them to have drama lessons with Lignadis, who is currently facing charges as a serial rapist.

Meanwhile, the migration and asylum ministry's Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors, Irini Agapidaki, on Monday sent a memo to the prosecution asking for the investigation of the complaints that came to light and concern the period between 2017-2018.

According to the reports, many of the children expressed reluctance and refused to return after two to three lessons, and those responsible did not ask to know the reason why they did not want to visit Lignadis nor did they make any report of it.

So far, three NGO's have allegedly been involved in the case.