UBOK Takes Action in Kosice, Investigating EU Funds-related Damage Worth €9.7 mn

Kosice, 27 November (TASR) - The anti-corruption unit of the Office for Combating Organised Crime (UBOK) has been carrying out raids in Kosice on Thursday, Police Corps Presidium spokesperson Lea Vilhanova informed TASR on the same day. The operation, codenamed 'Biogas', is reportedly related to damaging the financial interests of the European Union, with the damage estimated at some €9.7 million. The criminal case is related to a project called 'Provision of Renewable Sources of Fuel for Transport in the Visegrad Countries'. The premises of trading companies in Kosice are being searched as part of the operation. "We've been seizing accounting documentation and electronic data related to the crime under investigation since Wednesday," said Vilhanova. According to Vilhanova, the activities are being carried out based on orders from a judge for pre-trial proceedings of the Specialised Criminal Court, which were issued based on a proposal by the European Delegated Prosecutor in connection with suspicions of a crime related to damaging the financial interests of the EU. "A criminal prosecution has been initiated in the case by the European Delegated Prosecutor, supervised by the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Therefore, we won't provide any detailed information on the case at the moment," added Vilhanova. ko/df