As part of an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Lisbon (Portugal), the Portuguese Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária) is carrying out searches today in the municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz, on suspicion of fraud involving EU funds to the amount of €880 000.
At stake are grants awarded by the EU’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the organisation of the event ‘Water Life Aid’ (later renamed ‘Water – World Forum For Life’), promoted by the municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz to raise awareness of environmental sustainability, and which took place from 3 to 6 June 2021.
The contract for the organisation of the event – for which the promoting entity, the municipality, received €880 621 – was awarded directly to a private company.
The investigation, carried out by the National Anti-Corruption Unit of Portugal’s Judiciary Police (Unidade Nacional de Combate à Corrupção da Polícia Judiciária), under the direction of the EPPO, uncovered facts that could constitute crimes of subsidy fraud, active and passive corruption and financial complicity in business fraud by a public official.
As part of today’s investigative measures, searches were carried out in a company’s headquarters and a private house.
The investigation is ongoing in order to ascertain the nature and extent of the fraud.
