site.btaFive Detained for Abuse of European Funds

Employees of General Directorate Combating Organized Crime revealed a scheme for the abuse of European funds. Five participants in a criminal scheme were detained within the framework of a specialized police operation on the territory of the country, the Ministry of Interior said on its website.

The operation to uncover and document the abuse of European funds was carried out on May 15 in the Sofia, Pernik, Plovdiv, Dobrich, Kyustendil and Stara Zagora regions under the supervision of the prosecution service.

The five persons are being investigated for presenting false information in order to receive more funds from European Union funds and from the Bulgarian state intended for co-financing projects. Two of the detainees are registered farmers who have a contract with the State Fund Agriculture under a biosecurity project. In connection with the implementation of the project, they entered into contracts with third parties for the purchase of agricultural machinery and equipment from commercial companies at higher prices. The goal was to increase the value of the approved support and return the written value under a prior agreement in cash or through fictitious contracts.

Agricultural equipment and documentation related to the criminal activity were found during the investigation.

The work on the case continues under the guidance of the prosecution service, the Interior Ministry said.