Six detained over alleged €900,000 flood compensation fraud in Poland

27 August 2026 , 20:52

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Six detained over alleged €900,000 flood compensation fraud in Poland

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Katowice (Poland), six individuals were detained yesterday, as part of an investigation into suspected fraud involving €900 000 in compensation to companies for losses caused by floods. 

Between December 2024 and November 2025, representatives of three companies submitted claims for compensation, supported by documents intended to certify losses during the floods that devastated south-western Poland in September 2024.

According to EPPO’s findings, however, these claims may have been fraudulent, as the floods never reached the premises of the companies concerned. Nevertheless, the Karkonoska Regional Development Agency S.A. (KARR), a regional agency that manages EU-funded programmes and provides support to small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs, paid at least €900 000 (PLN 4 500 000) in the form of loans to the applicants, including national and EU funds. 

The six suspects include representatives of the companies under investigation and a former senior official of KARR. They were charged with subsidy fraud and using false statements to obtain the loans. 

Searches were also conducted at the suspects’ residences, the companies’ headquarters and at the residence of an expert who provided the estimation of the damage allegedly suffered by the suspects. Documents and IT devices were seized.

After interviewing the suspects, the European Delegated Prosecutor responsible for the investigation asked the Katowice-East District Court (Sąd Rejonowy Katowice–Wschód w Katowicach) to place three of the suspects in pre-trial detention, all representatives of the companies under investigation.  The three remaining suspects were released under police supervision and required to provide a financial guarantee.

The EPPO opened this investigation in August 2026 based on a report from the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau in Wrocław (Centralne Biuro Antykorupcyjne – CBA), which is also entrusted with carrying out the investigative measures.

All persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty before the competent Polish courts. 

The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.

Sophia Martinez

World Affairs Correspondent