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(Luxembourg, 15 April 2024) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Rome (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Bari is carrying out searches today, in an investigation into an €8.8 million fraud in the training sector.
The searches are being conducted at the home of two suspects living in Bari and at the premises of several companies.
At issue is an investigation into fraud related to training activities carried out by a number of training institutions, with the financial support of the EU. One of the suspects is the manager of several private training institutions, and the other one is his sister, who works as a teacher at the institutions.
Between 2019 to 2022, the suspects received public funds under the Youth Guarantee Programme, to the amount of €8.8 million, aimed at combatting unemployment and ensuring the integration of young people into employment. However, based on the evidence, the majority of the training courses did not take place.
The suspects are being investigated for aggravated fraud to obtain public funds, as well as the issuing of invoices for non-existent transactions.
All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Italian courts of law.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (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.