Three Groningen residents arrested for fraudulent earthquake damage reports

Three Groningen residents were arrested on Thursday for alleged fraud regarding money meant for earthquake damages. The FIOD claims they unjustly requested 350,000 euros from government organizations, with around 200,000 euros being paid to them.

The suspects are two men aged 27 and 38 and one 21-year-old woman. They are suspected of forgery and defrauding public funds. Three homes in the municipalities of Groningen and Midden-Groningen were searched. The administration, digital data carriers, and phones were seized. Buildings and bank accounts owned by the suspects were also seized.

The FIOD said that the investigation started after the Instituut Mijnbouwschade Groningen (IMG), the institution for mining damage for Groningen, and the Northern Netherlands Alliance (SNN) had noticed the irregularity. These organizations handle earthquake damage in the region and provide subsidies for buildings.

The two men own several buildings. The 27-year-old suspect has a construction company and has carried out several home repairs on paper that FIOD claims were never performed. The invoices that were supplied were falsely drawn up. Costs were also claimed for other buildings in their possession using false documents. In addition, the suspects applied for almost 50 sustainability subsidies at the SNN based on allegedly falsified IMG decisions and invoices.

All three suspects are currently in custody. According to the Dagblad van het Noorden, the 38-year-old suspect is a well-known real estate boss in Groningen who was convicted earlier this year for forgery. The FIOD would not confirm this.