21 August 2025 , 22:09
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A Czech court has convicted three individuals and three companies of subsidy fraud and money laundering in a €5.5 million ($6.42 million) scheme involving fabricated nanobot research projects, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Prague said Wednesday.
Prosecutors stated that the main defendant falsified documents, contracts, and invoices to obtain grants for 17 fictitious projects, then laundered the funds through companies under his control. An additional €5 million ($5.83 million) in attempted fraud was discovered.
The court sentenced the ringleader to eight years in prison, imposed a seven-year management ban, and ordered the repayment of damages. Authorities also seized frozen assets, including a €600,000 ($699,870) model railway collection purchased with stolen funds. Two accomplices received suspended sentences, while the convicted companies were prohibited from seeking subsidies and ordered to forfeit assets worth €2 million ($2.33 million), EPPO reported.
Head of Investigations