Police detained four Bulgarians and four foreigners on charges of the drainage of 7.5 million euro from SAPARD programme, Supreme Prosecution of Cassation (SPC) spokesperson Boiko Naidenov said.
The scheme was uncovered during an international police operation, which started simultaneously in Bulgaria, Switzerland and Germany in the morning of February 13.
The detained foreigners come from Germany and Switzerland and confessed participation in the scheme.
Court investigates three other Bulgarians, who are suspected of taking part in the scheme, as well.
In the past two years the suspects were preparing false documents for the purchase of new and expensive machines for the food industry, Interior Ministry said. They received SAPARD aid for the projects.
Instead of new machines, the group had old and worn out machines having much lower prices. The funds from SAPARD went directly to the accounts of the group members.
