EU fraud office steps up investigation of MEP expenses

The EU anti-fraud office Olaf has increased the number of investigators probing claims of an expenses scam by MEPs, it has emerged.

There are now four officials working almost full time on the case due to the “quantity of information” Olaf has been given.

The revelation comes after the Dutch MEP Paul van Buitenen last week gave Olaf the names of two MEPs he believes have been involved in expenses fraud.

One is a former MEP, while the other is still serving. Their names and nationalities have not been made known.

Van Buitenen has asked Olaf to assess the case and “if necessary, to open an official investigation into these alleged serious irregularities”.

An Olaf spokesman confirmed it had received a letter from the deputy and that the claims by van Buitenen would form part of its ongoing inquiry into the expenses allegations.

The spokesman said, ”Normally, we would have just one officer on a case but such has been the quantity of information that a special working group has been created, comprising four officials, to look into these allegations.

“At this stage, they are assessing whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant a formal investigation. It is a very complex case and it may be weeks, if not months, before a decision is made.”

It is believed that naming names will increase the likelihood of an investigation.

Earlier this month, van Buitenen published a confidential internal report on abuse of staff allowances described by a colleague as “dynamite”.

The report highlights money paid for non-existent staff via a system of “service providers” or accountants.

He posted a short summary of the report on his website.

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