After almost half a year since it was established that the state was defrauded of 10 million lei by illegally issuing social benefit, the persons who presented erroneous data about the incomes of families paid back about 2 million lei, Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga said in a news conference, quoted by IPN.

The seven criminal cases opened by the Prosecutor General’s Office over this case involve both social workers and recipients of benefit. The Ministry’s Social Inspectorate continues to carry out inspections in districts.

Currently, over 56,000 families receive benefit from the state. The benefit is offered to persons on incomes lower than the guaranteed minimum pension of 680 lei a month per family member.