Key facts
- EU authorities ordered the seizure of €175,000 in assets in Sicily.
- The seizure is related to an alleged fraud involving EU funds for veterinary disease control.
- Three senior public officials are suspected of misusing their positions.
- The suspects allegedly diverted funds to a private organization they controlled.
- The alleged fraud occurred between 2022 and 2025.
European authorities, through the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), have initiated the seizure of assets totaling €175,000 in Sicily, Italy. This action stems from an alleged fraud scheme involving EU funds designated for veterinary disease control and public health initiatives. The EPPO claims that three senior public officials, working within a public institute responsible for veterinary health, exploited their positions to funnel these public resources to a private organization that they controlled. According to the EPPO's allegations, this private organization mimicked the functions of the legitimate public body, creating an appearance of legitimacy while duplicating responsibilities. The suspects are believed to have manipulated the management of veterinary disease prevention activities from the public sector to their private entity between 2022 and 2025, aiming to secure illicit personal gains. A judge at the Court of Palermo has ordered the asset seizure to compensate for the estimated damage to the EU budget. The EPPO emphasized that all individuals involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty.