On 5 April 2023, two individuals were convicted by the Zemgale District Court in Riga (Latvia), following an indictment by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) for fraud involving EU agricultural funds, filed on 10 March 2023.
During the pre-trial criminal proceedings, the two accused pleaded guilty to all charges, and signed plea bargains with the European Delegated Prosecutor.
The court sentenced one of the individuals to two years and nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for that duration, and a fine of €9 300. The other accused was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment, suspended for that duration, and a fine of €6 200. The decision became final on 18 April 2023.
This is the third EPPO investigation in Latvia to end with a conviction.
Thanks to the EPPO’s investigation, the unlawfully obtained EU funds (€100 000) were fully recovered before the trial. The accused persons also withdrew payment requests for up to €90 000, and have been barred from applying to any EU-funded projects until 2025.