A Belgian-Romanian joint investigation team (JIT), supported by the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), has uncovered a money-laundering scheme associated with an EU-funded railway infrastructure project in Romania. The authorities have charged four people with money-laundering, influence-peddling and tax evasion. Further, the investigating authorities have seized their assets and frozen their bank accounts.
The defendants had committed corruption and money-laundering offenses over two different contracts for railway infrastructure development in Romania, co-funded by the European Union. The projects were intended to improve railway infrastructure between Bucharest and Constanta.
JIT members in both Belgium and Romania carried out joint, simultaneous operations in April 2019. During this investigation, they found evidence indicating corruption and money-laundering related to an Italian construction company in Romania.