Title: European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Romania Uncovers Suspected €561,000 Agricultural Funds Fraud in Brăila County
Date: 25 April 2024
Overview
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, is carrying out searches and raids in several locations in Brăila County as part of an ongoing investigation into a suspected €561,000 fraud involving European Union (EU) agricultural funds.
Details of the Case
- Location: Brăila County
- Suspected Civil Servant: A civil servant from the commune of Gropeni, Brăila County, is under investigation for forging documents to acquire EU agricultural funds
- Victims: The funds were obtained instead of the civil servant’s wife and son, who were named as the legal administrators
- Forged Documents: The forged documents, issued by the commune, were submitted to the Romania’s Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) – Brăila County Centre between 2013 and 2020
- Land Acquisition: The fraud involved land acquisition transactions, totaling between 270 and 427 hectares
Investigation Team
Dozens of police officers from the Galați Organised Crime Brigade (Brigada de Combatere a Criminalității Organizaate) and the Romanian Gendarmerie - Braila County Gendarmerie Inspectorate are involved in the operation.
European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO)
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is an independent public prosecution office established by the European Union. It is tasked with investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to judgment criminal offenses that harm the EU’s financial interests.
Previous EPPO Investigations in Romania
This is not the first major investigation by the EPPO into financial crimes in Romania. The increased cooperation between Romania and the European Union is expected to lead to continued focus on fraud and corruption cases involving European Union funds.
