The action of the police against the undue perception of public funds intended to support businesses during the Covid-19 emergency is a further sign of the authorities’ determination to combat all forms of abuse and fraud. Recently, the financiers of the Torre Annunziata group (Naples) carried out a preventive seizure order for an amount exceeding 70 thousand euros, issued by the investigating judge of the local court at the request of the Oplontine Prosecutor’s Office. The investigation targeted the owner of a sole proprietorship based in Pompeii, accused of having falsely certified a drop in turnover in order to unduly receive non-repayable contributions intended for companies affected by the epidemic.
According to what emerged from the investigations conducted by the Fiamme Gialle in the sector of the protection of public spending, the owner of the company, operating in the floristry sector, would have presented an electronic request reporting a false drop in turnover during the pandemic period. This drop, incorrectly indicated, was a fundamental requirement for obtaining public funding.
The suspect’s act made it possible to unjustifiably obtain a total sum of 71,024 euros, funds that should have been used to actually support economic activity and maintain employment during a period of great difficulty for many businesses.
The execution of the seizure order, still in progress, has the aim of recovering the financial resources and movable assets attributable to the suspect and his individual business, the overall value of which will be the subject of a precise quantification.
This action, conducted by the competent authorities, demonstrates the commitment to guaranteeing the correct allocation of public resources intended to support the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic and to ensuring that these funds are effectively used for the intended purposes, for the benefit of those who really need it.
