The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is investigating former Lithuanian MEP Viktor Uspaskich on charges of defrauding more than half a million euros in EU funds, expanding an investigation that previously focused on one of his aides, Euractiv reports.
Prosecutor Vytautas Kukaitis said the charges against Uspaskic were made during an interrogation on Wednesday.
In late March, authorities searched the offices of the populist Lithuanian Labour Party (LRP) as part of an EPPO investigation. The investigation is ongoing due to circumstances of abuse lasting from 2014 to 2020, when acting as part of a group of co-conspirators forged false documents, failed to perform or simulated the work functions of an assistant MEP, and obtained EU property worth more than €500,000.
EPPO is the EU’s independent prosecutor’s office responsible for investigating, prosecuting and convicting offences against the bloc’s financial interests.
In a statement released on Thursday, EPPO said Uspaskich is “officially suspected of abuse of office, falsification and use of forged documents, illegal acquisition, possession and use of an electronic document, and acquisition of high-value foreign assets.”
Two individuals are under investigation and travel bans and confiscation of personal documents have been imposed as a precautionary measure. In addition, the EU prosecutor’s office has imposed severe restrictions on property rights to ensure potential compensation.
Suspicion arose that the real duties of a parliamentary assistant were not being fulfilled or were being simulated. Uspaskich, the only Labour MEP, did not stand for re-election in June.
Millionaire Uspaskich, founder and former leader of the Labour Party, took over as interim leader after Andrius Mazuronis resigned due to poor election results.
