PJ investigates fraud of 17 million in grants. There are two detainees

Dthe people were arrested and 35 accused in an operation to combat fraud in obtaining subsidies involving more than 17 million euros, today announced the Judicial Police (JP).

PJ informed, in a statement on the “harpy” operation, that persons arrested and convicted, seven natural persons and 28 legal persons, would be involved in fraud crimes in obtaining subsidy, misappropriation, laundering and falsification of documents.

The operation, developed by the National Unit for Combating Corruption (UNCC), aimed at a fraudulent scheme involving several commercial companies and financial intermediaries, which, using false documentation and billing, “have been able to obtain improper national and Community funds”.

Funds would be allocated through financing lines to promote competitiveness and support the capitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in early stages of growth, internationalisation and innovation.

54 search warrants were completed in the districts of Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Aveiro, Santarém and Ponta Delgada.

The PJ says that documents and objects were seized “with high probatory relevance”, and was also made the provisional arrest of cryptoactives, real estate, top-of-the-range vehicles, boats, social contributions, bank accounts, works of art, watches and jewelry.