Eight suspects held in Bulgaria over 900 000 euro EU subsidy fraud
At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Sofia, eight suspects in Bulgaria including a public official were detained on June 30 over a 900 000 euro subsidy fraud involving employment benefits, EPPO said.
The detentions are related to an investigation into the activities of an organised criminal group suspected of fraudulently obtaining EU funds under employment support programmes.
Officers of the General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime also carried out eight searches and seized documents and evidence.
According to the evidence gathered so far, the members of the group used commercial companies to apply for projects financed under the Human Resources Development Programme 2021-2027.
They are believed to have submitted false information and created fictitious employment relationships, in order to meet programme eligibility requirements. It is suspected that the organised crime group benefited from the complicity of a public official.
The total amount of funds allegedly fraudulently claimed and received is approximately 990 000 euro.
The investigation is ongoing to clarify the facts and establish the full scope of the alleged criminal activity, EPPO said.
(Archive photo: Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry)
