Former member of EU delegation sentenced to prison for corruption

Former member of EU delegation sentenced to prison for corruption

2011-05-12 21:24:34 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- A Belgian court sentenced a former staff member of the Delegation of the EU to Ukraine for corruption charges, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) informed on Thursday.

The EU staff member, whose identity was not disclosed, was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of €5,000 ($7,000). The sentence was made public by the 47th Chamber of the Criminal Court in Brussels last Friday.

"Criminal proceedings involving EU staff are very rare but when they happen they are often lengthy. Thanks to the swift action taken by the Belgian judicial authorities, this case sets an important precedent," said OLAF Director-General Giovanni Kessler.

The defendant was first employed as a local and then as a contract agent. According to evidence, he asked bidders submitting offers for commission in several tender processes.

In one tender, concerning the implementation of post-Chernobyl aid program, he demanded bidders a 4 percent commission. One of the bidding companies accepted and paid him a 2.5 percent commission worth about 19 million Euro ($27 million).

OLAF was alerted of the staff member's illegal activities from a company that turned down his offer. The anti-fraud agency launched an investigation in conjunction with judicial authorities in Belgium.

Belgian authorities requested the European Commission to lift the staff member's immunity. The defendant was arrested in Brussels in May 2006. The Commission suspended him from office and eventually dismissed him in July 2007.

"Close cooperation between local authorities, us and the relevant European Commission service also contributed to the successful conclusion of this case," added the OLAF Director-General.

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