Italian Arrested for Defrauding European Union of 100 Million Euros

bucharest, romania - Romanian police arrest Italian suspected of leading criminal organization that defrauded EU of over 100 million euros.

Italian Suspect Arrested in Romania

Romanian police have arrested an Italian man suspected of leading a criminal organization that defrauded the European Union of more than 100 million euros. The man was detained at Bucharest airport last week, according to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), which conducted the investigation into the organization. Two other suspects have been placed under judicial supervision.

The organization, in collaboration with two Italian companies and Romanian partners, participated in public tenders to use European funds to install or improve water and sewer systems in Romania. The Italians falsified financial documents and contracts. They bid on a total of eighteen tenders worth 240 million euros, winning eight. The Romanian companies then carried out the work, as stated by the EPPO.

One of the Italian companies had previously been banned in Italy from participating in public tenders due to mafia connections.