Former MEP’s assets seized by Italian authorities in fraud investigation

18/12/2020

Yesterday, Italian authorities carried out a precautionary seizure of assets against a group of six people, including a former Member of the European Parliament, Lara Comi. The ex-MEP and the five other people are under investigation for alleged serious fraud against the EU budget. The preliminary seizure, which was ordered by the Milan Tribunal and carried out by the Guardia di Finanza, is worth a total of over €500,000.

The case had been also investigated by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), which issued disciplinary and financial recommendations amounting to over €780,000 to the European Parliament, as well as a judicial recommendation to the Italian authorities. 

OLAF worked closely with the Prosecutor’s Office of Milan, which was supported in its investigation by the Nucleo di Polizia Economico-Finanziaria of the Guardia di Finanza in Milan. The joint operational activities and continuous information exchanges between OLAF and the Italian authorities – throughout the investigations on both sides – are a clear example of successful cooperation between EU and national authorities to protect European taxpayers’ money from fraud.

Further information is available (in Italian) in the press release issued by the Italian authorities.