Press Release: OLAF failed to respect principle of presumption of innocence

The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, criticised the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) for not respecting the principle of the presumption of innocence in an investigation. This followed a complaint from a British consultant, who argued that letters which OLAF had sent to his former and current employers implied that he was responsible for serious irregularities in the framework of EU funded projects in which he was involved. According to him, this seriously damaged his reputation.

OLAF replied that the letters only requested information and did not cast any suspicion on the complainant. The Ombudsman, however, concluded that OLAF had indeed used incriminating language in its letters. He took the view that OLAF failed to respect the principles of fairness, proportionality and the presumption of innocence.