With the support of OLAF, German authorities (spearheaded by the Mannheim’s prosecution service) seized huge amounts of documents and data which are to prove embezzlement and subsidy fraud allegedly committed by four persons between 51 and 56 years of age. They are alleged of having misused several million euros in EU research funds, since they did not pay partners in the research project contrary to contractual obligations.

The prosecution service of Mannheim let the business and private premises of the person concerned be searched in several locations in Germany. On the basis of a mutual legal assistance request and coordination by Eurojust, the French police simultaneously searched premises in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

The Director-General of OLAF, Ville Itälä, commended the teamwork in this joint cooperation. German investigators are currently examining the material. Criminal investigations are ongoing.