At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Rome (Italy), the judge for preliminary investigations of the Tribunal of Foggia issued a freezing order of over €420 000, in an investigation into fraud involving the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
The freezing order was issued against an Italian company, as well as its legal representative and the ‘de facto’ manager of the company, and was carried out by the Guardia di Finanza (Italian Financial Police) – Sezione Operativa Navale in Manfredonia (Puglia region).
The investigation unveiled a suspected fraud aimed at obtaining public funds intended for financing the new construction or the expansion of mussel farming plants.
According to the investigation, the company’s mussel farming facilities had already been entirely built and were operational in 2017, when the application for financing was submitted to the EMFF 2014/2020 Operational Programme. The programme provided subsidies of up to 50% of the eligible expenses, based on the costs incurred by the beneficiaries.
The suspects are believed to have submitted false cost estimates and accounting documents, in order to mislead the authorities of the Puglia region.