According to the investigation, he received EU subsidies for pastures that did not belong to him, using government officials to facilitate the process.
Between 2018 and 2023, the sheep breeder employed workers to register pastures in the names of his parents and a commercial company, in order to fraudulently obtain EU funds. Reportedly, officials from the Romanian Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) also collaborated in this scheme.
Additionally, he allegedly submitted requests for forest areas that were not eligible for support, enlisting the help of APIA government officials. In this way, the suspect acquired approximately €2.2 million in EU agricultural funds.
The European prosecutor responsible for the investigation ordered the arrest of the three suspects. Furthermore, eight other individuals have been charged, including five more government officials.