26/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - In written questions about the recent Eurostat scandal, Lista Bonino MEP Maurizio Turco has slammed the disappearance of an OLAF (European anti-fraud office) dossier on the hearing of a Eurostat official in May 2000. In a press release published on 25 August, the MEP notes that OLAF officials had noted in an internal report in 2002 that other documents had also been “lost”. Turco expresses surprise that the Commission felt the need to issue a public declaration that it had decided to help Eurostat director Franchet and Head of Unit Byk, defend their reputations and defend themselves. Both men have been cited in the case. Turco wonders whether the European Commission believes OLAF made erroneous or false assessments of the two high level Eurostat officials (see EUROPE of 31 July, p.5).