Italy: EPPO seizes assets in investigation into farmer suspected of funding fraud

(Luxembourg, 11 June 2024) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy), a freezing order of over €190 000 was executed last week (5 June 2024) against a farmer suspected of misappropriation of EU agricultural funds. Real estate, equivalent to the value of the estimated damage, has been seized.

According to the evidence, the suspect successfully applied for over €190 000 in EU agricultural funds between 2017 and 2021, by falsely declaring ownership and possession of land in the Sicilian provinces of Messina and Syracuse. It is understood that, in this manner, he misled the Italian Agricultural Payments Agency (Agenzia per le erogazioni in agricoltura – AGEA), defrauding over €190 000. The investigation also revealed that the land parcels were actually owned by unaware individuals, or designated for ‘pasture grazing’ – which does not qualify for EU agricultural funds.

At the request of the EPPO, the judge for preliminary investigations of the Court of Patti issued a freezing order of assets for the sums unduly received, which was executed by the Italian Financial Police in Capo d’Orlando (Tenenza di Capo d’Orlando della Guardia di Finanza). 

All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Italian courts of law.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.