(Luxembourg, 15 September 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Riga (Latvia) has secured a final conviction at the Zemgale District Court against an economic operator and a company from Zemgale, found guilty of large-scale fraud in relation to projects funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
The investigation, carried out in cooperation with the 2nd Division of the Economic Crime Combating Board of the Latvian State Police, revealed that the operator had defrauded more than €900 000 in EU and state funds, while attempting to obtain an additional €624 000.
As previously reported, the fraud concerned two agricultural development projects, implemented in 2019–2020 and 2022–2023. It was established that the construction works were awarded through fictitious tenders to companies covertly controlled by the operator, in violation of procurement rules. To disguise the scheme, the operator produced false documentation and arranged fictitious financial transactions.
During the proceedings, the defrauded amounts were repaid to the Latvian Rural Support Service. The convicted operator and the beneficiary company are barred from participating in project calls for three years.
This conviction is the result of a plea bargain based on which the operator was sentenced to a fine of €75 480. The legal entity was subject to a coercive measure of €425 500.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.