Last week, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) indicted five persons and two companies for EU funding fraud worth an estimated €1.7 million.
It is alleged that, between September 2018 and February 2023, the suspects used false and inaccurate documents to obtain EU funds for the creation of an agricultural holding. In total, the suspects are understood to have unjustly received €1.9 million (RON 9 210 491), of which the actual damages caused were €1.7 million (RON 8 358 821) as the disbursement of €200 000 was stopped thanks to the investigation.
The suspects are: the administrator of the company receiving the EU funds, who was also a Member of the Romanian Parliament; the company in receipt of the EU funds; two administrators of that company; one accountant; one site engineer; and an additional company.
The five persons and the two companies were ordered to be charged as defendants for forgery and fraud against the financial interest of EU. Freezing orders over €1.7 million have also been initiated for the recovery of the damages.