Criminal case of Estonian businessman Tullio Liblik taken over by EPPO

• Published date: 17 May 2022
• Publication title: LETA

Proceedings in a criminal case regarding enterprises associated with Estonian businessman Tullio Liblik applying for funding from the European Union have been taken over by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO).

"The said criminal case is being handled by the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Suspicions have been brought against three individuals on the basis of the necessary elements of benefit fraud. The proceedings are ongoing, thus, no more details can be disclosed at present," European delegated prosecutor Silvia Kruusmaa told BNS.

Liblik told BNS that he has not received any suspicions of a criminal offense.

"There has been silence following the incident a year ago. I have not received any suspicions," he said.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) started work on June 1, 2021. Starting from this date, all crimes causing damage to the EU budget must be reported to EPPO, including criminal proceedings that are already underway.

"This obligation applies to all domestic agencies, including the prosecutor's office, investigative authorities and inspection bodies distributing EU support. The criminal cases that had already been launched were taken over by EPPO if the necessary criteria for its procedural competences had been met," Kruusmaa said.

The delegated prosecutor added that EPPO ordinarily only takes over the handling of...