Flood aid fraud: EPPO launches investigation, six people face charges
EPPO is investigating suspected fraud in the awarding of flood aid worth 900,000 euros. Six people, including a former KARR official, have been charged.
EPPO investigates alleged misappropriation of flood aid from KARR
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) announced on Thursday evening that it had launched an investigation into suspected fraud in the awarding of support to enterprises for losses related to flooding — as reported by Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. The total value of loans disbursed is at least 900,000 euros (4.5 million zlotys).
Six people have been charged with fraud and using false statements to obtain loans: representatives of three firms seeking compensation and a former senior official of the Karkonoska Regional Development Agency Ltd. (KARR). This information was previously released by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau, and EPPO confirmed it in its statement.
Applications for support were submitted in the period from December 2024 to November 2025. The applications were accompanied by documents intended to confirm losses incurred during the flooding that affected south-western Poland in September 2024.
"According to EPPO's findings, these actions may have been fraudulent in nature, as the flood never reached the headquarters of the enterprises in question," according to the European Public Prosecutor's Office statement.
Nevertheless, KARR — a regional agency managing programmes financed from EU funds and supporting small and medium enterprises — disbursed the aforementioned funds to the applicants in the form of loans, sourced from both national and EU funds.
Background to the case — earlier reports and dismissals
In August, the Wirtualna Polska portal revealed that 4.5 million zlotys of flood aid from KARR had gone to three entities from the same area, although four independent sources ruled out that they had suffered as a result of the flooding. These entities were linked to the agency's vice-chairwoman, an activist from the Civic Coalition.
On 11 August, the supervisory board dismissed KARR vice-chairwoman Anna Konieczyńska. The reasons cited were matters of reputation, company management, and information about irregularities in the provision of flood support.
Three days later, on 14 August, the management of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship decided to dismiss KARR chairman Hubert Papaja and the entire supervisory board of the company.
Source: Dziennik Gazeta Prawna