Greek scientist accused of embezzling €190,000 of EU research funds

·

OLAF, the EU’s anti-fraud agency, this week confirmed an unnamed Greek scientist defrauded the European Research Council (ERC) of roughly €190,000.

“A complex fraud involving a Greek scientist and her network of international researchers has been uncovered by investigators,” OLAF said.

The case involves a grant of €1.1 million from the ERC to an unnamed Greek university. The money was intended to finance a research project run by a young female scientist, whose father was employed at the university, and was said to involve a network of more than 40 researchers from around the world.

The fraud team became suspicious when it discovered how the international researchers involved in the research project were being paid.

“Cheques were issued in the name of individual researchers but were then deposited into bank accounts with multiple beneficiaries. Suspicions increased when it emerged that the cheques were personally deposited into the bank accounts by the lead scientist,” OLAF’s report says.

European Research Council office. Photo: TheScientist.com

An on-the-spot check at the university followed. Evidence was found to suggest that the lead scientist had set up bank accounts used to pay the international researchers, while making herself a co-beneficiary of the accounts in order to gain access to the money.

The EU fraud team followed the financial trail and was able to prove that large sums were either withdrawn in cash by the scientist or were transferred into her private account.

OLAF contacted a number of the researchers who were said to be involved in the research project. None of them were aware that their name was linked to the project or had any knowledge of the bank accounts opened in their names, or of any payments made into them.

The OLAF headquarters in Brussels, Belgium | EPA/Julien Warnand.

“The sheer size and scope of the network of researchers allegedly involved in this project posed a real challenge to OLAF’s investigators. Their ability to access and verify accounts set up to allegedly pay researchers from across the world was a vital element in getting to the bottom of this attempt to defraud the EU budget,” the office said.

Since 2010, the ERC has referred less than 100 cases of suspected fraud or irregularities to OLAF. This is the first case to be judged as fraud by OLAF, the ERC confirmed.

The ERC’s executive agency is now working to recover an amount of around €190,000. OLAF has also recommended that Greek authorities initiate judicial proceedings against the persons involved.

OLAF has refused to name the scientist, the university involved or the year the grant was issued.

Sourced By: Science Business

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Niki Louca shares her Eliopites (olive bread) recipe

Niki Louca from My Greek Kitchen shares her favourite recipe for Eliopites (olive bread) with The Greek Herald. 

Call for submissions: Greek Australian writers invited to publish in ‘O Logos’ journal

The Hellenic Writers’ Association of Australia has announced a call for submissions for its annual literary journal, O Logos.

Greek and Australian re-enactment groups: A historical point of unity

'Adult dress-up groups' was what I thought of the mainly medieval costumed people I had come across now and then.

A historian’s view on ‘Escape from Asia Minor’: A memoir of genocide and survival

‘Escape from Asia Minor: The Memoir of a Native Greek Pharmacist who served in the Ottoman and Kemalist Armies during the Greek Genocide.

Speak Greek in March: Say it loud, proud, and together

The ‘Speak Greek in March’ initiative, has encouraged everyone, regardless of background, to engage with the Greek language.

You May Also Like

Maria Sakkari charges into Indian Wells semi finals

Greek tennis player, Maria Sakkari, has charged into the Indian Wells semi finals after defeating Czech player Petra Kvitova 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

‘Mind, Mythos, Muse’: The Greek side of Alexander McQueen at the NGV

'Mind, Mythos, Muse': The Greek side of fashion designer Alexander McQueen at the National Gallery of Victoria.

President Sakellaropoulou visits Greek-speaking villages of Southern Italy

The President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, visited the Greek-speaking villages of Apulia in southern Italy on Saturday.