EPPO investigates subsidy fraud for employee training in Czechia; police conduct 32 searches
The European Public Prosecutor's Office in Ostrava is investigating fraud involving EU subsidies for employee training. Police conducted 32 searches, with 18 individuals and 15 companies charged. The damage to the EU budget amounts to approximately 268,000 euros.
EPPO investigates subsidy fraud for employee training in Czechia; police conduct 32 searches
The police conducted a total of 32 residential and non-residential searches in the Moravian-Silesian Region on 10 and 11 June 2026 as part of an investigation into suspected fraud involving funds intended for employee training. The money came from the National Recovery Plan financed from the European Union budget. The investigation is being led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Ostrava.
The searches were carried out by officers from the Regional Police Headquarters of the Moravian-Silesian Region, Economic Crime Department. In the criminal proceedings, 18 individuals and 15 companies are charged with subsidy fraud and damage to EU financial interests. Police also questioned dozens of employees who allegedly completed the training.
According to investigators, the suspects, who held managerial positions in companies applying for subsidies, cooperated with individuals involved in subsidy administration and with certain instructors. Together, they allegedly provided false information about the implementation of training focused on information technology. In several cases, they reportedly claimed that training had taken place when it had not, or stated higher numbers of trained employees than actually participated.
Individual companies received amounts ranging from approximately 10,000 euros (250,000 CZK) to approximately 80,000 euros (2,000,000 CZK) for educational activities. The conduct of the suspects allegedly caused damage to the EU budget of around 268,000 euros (6.7 million CZK). They are also suspected of attempting to obtain additional unlawful benefits worth approximately 161,000 euros (4.03 million CZK), which would represent further damage to the EU budget.
Police secured assets belonging to the suspects and companies, including funds in bank accounts, real estate in Prague and cash found together with gold during the searches. The value of the secured assets amounts to approximately 800,000 euros (20 million CZK).
All those affected are considered innocent until their guilt is proven in the relevant Czech courts.
Source: European Public Prosecutor's Office
Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)