A man identified only as “Michel”, who was arrested and charged in relation to a fraud investigation involving the bilking of millions of euros through e-prescriptions paid out by the national healthcare provider (EOPYY), was remanded in custody on Wednesday.
An examining magistrate and relevant prosecutor deemed him a flight risk. The suspect, according to media reports, is a Moroccan national.
Other arraignments are pending for seven seven of the 16 suspects arrested in two separate cases of alleged fraud against EOPYY to the tune of some 3.5 million euros.
Three of the suspects were conditionally released on bail.
The remanded suspect is charged with detecting social security numbers that other alleged members of the ring used to write numerous prescriptions. They would then receive the proceeds and resell the medications, either through export abroad or by funneling the drugs to street peddlers.
The suspects allegedly used SSN belonging to family members, elderly people, inmates and foreign nationals with legal residency status.
Another round of arraignments are set for Thursday.
