Anti-fraud police probe EU clean-up

ANTI-FRAUD officers are investigating claims that millions of euro have beensiphoned off from contracts for cleaning EU offices.

Since March the allegations have been investigated by Belgian police, following reports from both inside and outside the European Commission.

The allegations are that money was paid out on foot of fake invoices for cleaning of EU offices in Brusselsbetween 2003 and 2007.

Reports that up to€60 million could have been defrauded weredescribed as impossible by commission officials yesterday and by Olaf, the EU’s anti-fraud body.

Olaf said: “The totalvolume of the contract in question is €44m. As the cleaning services have been rendered, any potential damage could only amount to a fraction of this.”