Five arrested for fraud and forgery with earthquake subsidies
Five people have been arrested in connection with fraudulent claims for earthquake damage in Groningen province, finance ministry investigators said on Thursday. The five are suspected of fraud and forgery, the department said.
They are said to have faked letters from quake damage monitoring body IMG and submitted 300 subsidy requests, netting an estimated €1 million.
Four of the men, aged 26, 53, 54 and 54, come from Westerkwartier (Groningen) and the fifth, who is 53, is from Oud-Beijerland in Zuid-Holland. The group are said to own a large number of properties in Groningen.
Police seized six luxury cars, weapons, illegal fireworks and computer equipment during raids on the men’s homes and business premises.
The investigation began following a tip-off from the IMG and subsidy body SNN.
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