Police Charge Three People with Subsidy Fraud Exceeding €3 million

Bratislava, 16 January (TASR) - The police have charged three people with subsidy fraud, and one of them also with damaging the financial interests of the European Union, with the accused alleged to have committed the crime during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bratislava region police reported on social media on Friday. One of the group received more than €3.3 million in state funds through fraudulent activities between May 2020 and December 2021. If found guilty, the accused will face imprisonment of three to nine years and six months. "The accused, 50-year-old Tony T. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons], submitted a request via the electronic mailbox of the company of which he was the managing director between May 2020 and December 2021 for an across-the-board contribution to cover part of employee salary costs owing to a decline in revenues caused by the extraordinary situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds that he requested could only be used for employees in permanent employment," wrote the police. According to the police, between May 2020 and September 2020, he submitted applications for subsidies and pretended to have employees, even though his company didn't have the declared numbers. Meanwhile, between 15 October 2020 and 2 December 2021, he enlisted the help of 37-year-old Vladimir M. and 49-year-old Ludvik N. to submit electronic reports for financial contributions signed with their guaranteed signatures and addressed to the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Office in which they continued to falsely declare the existence of employees. The police added that this resulted in Tony T. being paid more than €3.3 million. am/df