ATHENS - A Greek prosecutor ordered a nationwide investigation into birth certificates issued in the past six years, after the discovery of a young girl living in a Roma camp brought to light the possibility of widespread welfare fraud in Greece.
The case of the girl, known as Maria in the Roma camp, where her blond, blue-eyed features were uncommon, has drawn extensive media interest and raised a host of questions. It has also underscored the dysfunction in Greece's public sector, where waste and abuse remain rife despite years of overhauls.
Government officials said there are reasons to believe that hundreds of children - many of whom might not exist - have been registered with the Athens city government alone in the past two years by people claiming fraudulent government handouts.
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