According to its 2011 report, the department carried out 178 inspections in 2011, including 53 which were already running at the beginning of the year, and another 125 controls were launched later in the year. More than half, 97, were completed by the end of 2011. In 53 cases, the department found indication of fraud, problems were found with seven others, while notifications for the remaining 37 were proven baseless and the cases were closed.
The department investigated projects worth a total EUR247,140,915, and the financial impact of the uncovered irregularities and possible cases of fraud was EUR28,883,658.88. In 2010, DLAF ran checks on EU-funded projects worth EUR58,361,949, and detected frauds and problems with projects worth EUR2,781,114.
DLAF forwarded 79 inspection reports to the National Anticorruption Department (DNA) and another to the prosecutor’s office attached to the Ploiesti Court of Appeals, which were used to draw up 16 indictments and charge 37 people. The charged individuals caused damage worth EUR4,615,302, according to DNA’s assessment.
In 2011, Romanian courts made 61 rulings concerning 113 defendants charged by anticorruption prosecutors with misappropriation of European Union funds. Of the 61 rulings, 31 remained final and resulted in the conviction of 54 people: 16 received prison sentences and 19 received suspended sentences. Six other defendants were acquitted.
Of the 53 controls carried out by DLAF in 2011 regarding suspicions of fraud, most possibly criminal acts were committed in the private sector (46), compared with 15 in the public administration.
In its report, DLAF highlights its cooperation with the European Antifraud Office (OLAF), citing OLAF director general as stating DLAF’s legal basis has been strengthened and the department is able to run solid investigations.