RAF fraud investigation launched

Royal Air Force pilots and navigators who flew over Bosnia to enforce the no-fly zone are being investigated after allegations of "fraudulent" expenses claims, the Ministry of Defence said yesterday. Military police have interviewed an undisclosed number of personnel from different ranks who served at Gioia del Colle in Italy while supporting Operation Resolute in late 1993.

The MoD said those under investigation had not been suspended, but refused to release further details. A spokeswoman would not confirm reports that the alleged fraud - linked to hotel and subsistence allowances - totalled pounds 350,000, but she did say it was a "fairly unusual" case. Matthew Brace