Fraud ring with EU subsidies worth 160 million euros! 22 arrested
Czech police have arrested 22 individuals suspected of corruption and fraud of EU subsidies worth at least 160 million euros in the country's healthcare sector.
An investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) revealed that 16 suspects exploited public procurement processes by seeking and securing illegal financial benefits for the implementation of contracts for the Motol University Hospital in Prague, which is the largest hospital in the Czech Republic.
The 16 suspects have been charged with corruption, subsidy fraud, harming the EU's financial interests and money laundering, the EPPO and Czech police said.
"There are reasons to believe that serious corruption has affected the implementation of projects financed or co-financed by the EU through the Czech National Recovery Plan and the European Cohesion Fund (Operational Programme for Environment 2014-2020), with a total value of over 160 million euros," the EPPO said in a statement on Monday.
More than 350 police officers carried out 46 searches across the Czech Republic as part of the investigation. These sweeps included the Motol University Hospital, numerous commercial premises and a law firm, according to the EPPO.
The suspects, who have not been named, face prison sentences of up to 12 years if convicted, Czech police said.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union, responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to trial crimes against the EU's financial interests.
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