Palermo vet institute fraud case leads to €175k seizure

Italian financial police in Palermo seized more than €175,000 from the former extraordinary commissioner and president of the Institute of Veterinary Health (Istituto Zooprofilattico) and two other senior officials. The seizure was ordered by the GIP of the Palermo Tribunal following a request from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) after an investigation into alleged aggravated fraud involving public veterinary funding.

Investigators say the suspects misused funds allocated by the Sicilian regional government and an international animal‑health organization between 2022 and 2025. The money was allegedly diverted to private compensation, external consulting contracts, and personal purchases, including an expensive computer for a relative of a local health assessor. The probe also uncovered the creation of an autonomous committee, STOR Remesa, to channel and overprice travel and service expenses, with some invoices showing mark‑ups of over 150 %. The case highlights alleged clientelism and the improper handling of more than €2 million in public contributions intended for animal‑health projects.