Image
Published on
(Luxembourg, 24 October 2023) – On Friday (20 October 2023), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest referred a criminal case to the Bucharest Tribunal, where three people and two companies were indicted for EU funding fraud worth an estimated €1.7 million.
As reported in May this year, it is alleged that the defendants used false and inaccurate documents to obtain EU funds for the creation of an agricultural holding. The defendants are understood to have been unjustly awarded €1.9 million (RON 9 210 491), of which the actual damage caused was €1.7 million (RON 8 358 821), as the disbursement of €200 000 was halted due to the investigation.
In total, five individuals and two companies were initially indicted for being a part of this fraud. In the time since, two individuals admitted their guilt and requested the conclusion of a plea bargaining agreement.
The two companies and the remaining three individuals (the administrator of the company in receipt of the EU funding, who was also a Member of the Romanian Parliament; the representative of the other company, who assisted with the EU funding process; and the accountant of these two companies) will be judged in front of the Bucharest Tribunal.
If convicted, the defendants face prison sentences of up to 7 years, and the companies may be required to pay a monetary penalty between €3 600 and €300 000.
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.