Thread by @LHreports

The leadership of @Frontex faces the most serious fallout to date from @LHreports investigations, as we can reveal the findings of a damning report from the EU anti-fraud watchdog OLAF, confirming they covered up pushbacks
spiegel.de/ausland/eu-ant…

The 200-page OLAF report, based on the testimony of 20 witnesses incl. multiple staff from Frontex, is considered so sensitive that it has only been shared with the agency’s Management Board & a committee of MEPs

In it, staff members testified that senior leadership at the multi-billion euro agency harassed staff & covered up multiple rights abuses including the common practice of leaving refugees adrift at sea in life rafts

Frontex director Fabrice Leggeri & colleagues could now face disciplinary action at a showdown meeting with the agency’s Management Board on March 7. He’s now expected to tour European capitals to shore up support

The OLAF findings come after EU parliamentary hearings, the report of an EP Scrutiny Group & an inquiry by Frontex’s own Management Board. The leadership which has been accused of overseeing an agency in turmoil has so far remained unscathed
lighthousereports.nl/investigation/…

Since Frontex complicity in pushbacks was first revealed by @LHreports @derspiegel & other partners in Oct ‘20 the agency has denied all accusations & insisted nothing was proven. That defence collapsed today
lighthousereports.nl/investigation/…