PRAGUE, April 8 (Reuters) - Czech authorities detained seven people, including two high-ranking Industry Ministry officials, over suspected European Union subsidies fraud, the EU prosecutor's office said on Wednesday.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) did not name the suspects but said they attempted to illegally obtain funds amounting to 13.5 million euros ($15.79 million), or 340 million crowns.
"At issue are EU subsidies...allegedly obtained illicitly for developing an innovation centre for housing start-ups and scientific firms or projects," EPPO said.
A top-level official at the country's Building Authority was also among those detained.
The Czech industry and development ministries had no immediate comment.
According to EPPO's investigation, a businessman with connections to officials submitted false information to the ministry managing the funds.
Czech police carried out 13 searches in cooperation with the EPPO, seizing a building and 2 million euros in bank accounts, the statement said.
($1 = 0.8552 euros)
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)
