News

As previously reported, in January this year, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb filed an indictment against six defendants for the illegal trade of cigarettes, tax or customs duty evasion and bribery, committed as part of a criminal organisation.

Today, 10 May 2023, the County Court in Zagreb passed a verdict in which three defendants (the first, the second and the fifth defendants from the indictment) were found guilty of the above-mentioned criminal offences.

On Friday, 5 May 2023, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Madrid (Spain) carried out two searches and seized nine bank accounts and other assets, in an investigation into a suspected criminal organisation dedicated to fraud involving European Union agricultural funds.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy) has seized over €700 000 in assets against seven suspects and their companies, in an investigation into fraud involving national and EU agricultural funding aimed at supporting the conversion to organic farming.

We are pleased to announce that the EPPO will participate for the first time in the Europe Day Festival on 9 May, from 12.00 to 18.00, in Place de l'Europe, Luxembourg City.

Yesterday, an explosive device detonated on the way of the convoy of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack against the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria.

On behalf of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the State Police of Latvia carried out searches today, 26 April 2023, in 10 locations, and arrested eight suspects, in an investigation into a €2.5 million fraud involving agricultural funds.

This morning, 21 April 2023, the Carabinieri of Palermo (Italy) executed restrictive measures of house arrests against three suspects, issued by the judge for preliminary investigations of the Court of Palermo. This is based on the findings of an investigation into embezzlement and corruption, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo.

As previously reported, in March this year, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb filed an indictment against two Croatian citizens for unlawful favouritism and incitement to unlawful favouritism. Today, 21 April 2023, the County Court in Zagreb passed a verdict in which the first defendant was found guilty of unlawful favouritism and sentenced to 11 months of imprisonment – which was exchanged for community service and a fine of €5 000. The verdict was the result of a plea bargain, as the defendant pleaded guilty to her charges.

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.