24/05/24 (Agence Europe) – More than €15 million have been frozen by an order of the Court of Palermo (Italy) at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) against seven individuals and five companies. These parties are suspected of fraud involving EU funds, money laundering and tax evasion. Restrictive measures have also been imposed on the suspects, banning them from certain economic and professional activities. The alleged fraud involves the falsification of documents to illegally obtain resources from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with false invoices totalling €8.3 million. The companies involved, valued at €7.5 million, have been placed under court administration. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. (NP)