EPPO,European Public Prosecutor's Office,update

 

20/05/2026   European Public Prosecutor's Office News

Follow us

Press release

Romania: Mayor caught red-handed while receiving bribe (Luxembourg, 20 May 2026) - In an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Timișoara (Romania), the mayor of Buduslău (Bihor county) was placed under judicial control yesterday and charged with passive corruption, as part of an ongoing investigation into the execution of an EU-funded contract for improving agricultural road infrastructure. Evidence gathered so far shows that since October 2025, the mayor, who also acted as the financial officer of the local authority, asked a company representative for a bribe equal to 5% of the contract value, excluding VAT. The contract itself was worth around €770 000 (RON 4 million) meaning the requested bribe was €38 500 (RON 200 000). In return, the mayor allegedly promised to ensure the contract was carried out smoothly and to speed up payments for works funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). It is suspected that the public official received the full amount in several instalments, including around €28 800 (RON 150 000) on 19 May 2026, when he was caught in the act. The mayor has now been charged with passive corruption. He has been placed under judicial control for 60 days, which includes a ban on leaving the country and a prohibition on exercising his duties as mayor during that period. The investigation is carried out with the support of the EPPO Support Structure in Romania (Structura de sprijin a procurorilor europeni delegați în România), Timișoara Special Operations Brigade (Brigada de Operațiuni Speciale Timișoara), Arad County Police Inspectorate - Economic Crimes Investigation Service (Inspectoratul de Poliție Județean Arad – Serviciul de Investigare a Criminalității Economice) and Timișoara Brigade for Combating Organied Crime (Brigada de Combatere a Criminalității Organizate Timișoara).   more Czechia: Two convicted of fraud involving childcare services (Luxembourg, 21 May 2026) – An individual and an association were convicted today by the Regional court in Ostrava (Czechia), branch office of Olomouc, for fraudulently obtaining €200 000 (CZK 5 million) in EU funds for the provision of childcare services, following an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zlín (Czechia). The verdicts were the result of an agreement on guilt and punishment (a plea bargain), as the defendants pleaded guilty to all charges. According to the investigation, the manager of an association dedicated to providing childcare in the Moravian region presented false statements, in order to obtain grants from the European Social Fund (ESF) to expand the services and improve employment conditions for families with children. Based on the evidence, the manager falsified the financial situation of the association, by concealing debts to the national authorities. The individual was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended for four years. In addition, the defendant was sentenced to pay a fine of €10 000 (CZK 250 000) and to compensate the financial damage to the EU and is prohibited from applying for subsidies for a period of seven years. The association is barred from applying for subsidies for 10 years. Earlier in this investigation, in order to recover the damage to the EU and the Czech national budget, Czechia’s Police (Policie České republiky – Krajské ředitelství policie Olomouckého kraje) seized real estate worth over €200 000 (CZK 5 million). The facts were reported to the EPPO in February 2024, by Czechia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.   more

European Public Prosecutor's Office - 11 Avenue John F. Kennedy, Luxembourg, 1855 Luxembourg