Operation Harpia: two arrested and 35 suspects in €17 million subsidy fraud
The Judicial Police arrested two people and constituted 35 suspects in an operation against fraud in national and European funds exceeding €17 million.
Two arrested and 35 suspects in scheme to defraud public and European funds
The Judicial Police (PJ) arrested two people and constituted 35 suspects in an operation to combat fraud in the obtaining of subsidies exceeding €17 million, according to Correio da Manhã.
The operation, named "Harpia" and conducted by the National Unit for Combating Corruption (UNCC), targeted a fraudulent scheme that involved several commercial companies and financial intermediaries. Using false documentation and invoicing, those involved "managed to improperly obtain national and European funds", the PJ stated in a communiqué.
Seven individuals and 28 legal entities
Of the 35 suspects constituted, seven are individuals and 28 are legal entities. The suspects are answerable for crimes of fraud in obtaining subsidies, misappropriation of subsidies, money laundering and falsification of documents.
The funds in question were allocated through financing lines aimed at promoting competitiveness and capitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in initial phases of growth, internationalisation and innovation.
54 search warrants across six districts
As part of the operation, 54 search warrants were executed in the districts of Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Aveiro, Santarém and Ponta Delgada.
The searches allowed the seizure of documents and objects described by the PJ as having "high evidentiary relevance". Provisional attachment was also ordered on a broad set of assets, including crypto-assets, real estate, high-end vehicles, boats, shareholdings, bank accounts, works of art, watches and jewellery.
Source: Correio da Manhã