(Luxembourg, 28 July 2023) – Last week, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) filed an indictment in the Regional Court of Vilnius (Lithuania) against five individuals and two companies, for fraud involving two projects – the farming of livestock and a wellness centre – co-funded by the EU.
The beneficiaries of the funding and their accomplices are accused of submitting false documents to certify the implementation of the work related to the projects, with the help of a construction maintenance manager – who is additionally charged with negligence in carrying out his duties. The funding applicants are also accused of simulating the payment of their financial contributions, by making transactions between bank accounts managed by their accomplices. Finally, the organiser of the scheme and one of the accomplices have been charged with embezzling €90 000 from one of the companies.
The estimated damage to the EU budget amounts to €460 000.
The facts date back to 2015–2020, and when the EPPO started operations in June 2021, the case was evoked to its Vilnius office. The Financial Crime Investigation Service under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania (Finansinių nusikaltimų tyrimo tarnyba prie Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerijos) carried out the pre-trial investigation, under the direction of the EPPO.
All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Lithuanian courts of law.
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.