(Zaman Al Wasl)- The European Commission's anti-fraud office (OLAF) said it had closed an investigation into fraud against the EU budget relating to a “Rule of Law” project in Syria last January, recommending that authorities in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium consider prosecuting the involved project partners for possible offences of fraud and forgery, according to press statement released on Tuesday.
The anti-fraud office received information suggesting that a company based in the UK, and its partners in the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates, might have been engaging in fraud against the EU budget, in relation to a “Rule of Law” project in Syria.
OLAF said the UK company, together with its partners, had entered into a contract with the EU to support possible prosecutions for violations of International Criminal and Humanitarian Law in Syria. The total value of this contract was EUR 1, 999 830.
The European Union budget finances a wide range of programmes and projects which improve the lives of citizens across the EU and beyond, but fraudsters sometimes also targets these funds, the statement said.
OLAF’s investigation revealed that while the partnership claimed to be supporting the rule of law, the partners were actually committing widespread violations themselves, including submission of false documents, irregular invoicing, and profiteering.
Zaman A Wasl
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