EU prosecutor investigates Spanish ministry over tracking bracelets

MADRID, Nov 12 (Reuters) - The European Public Prosecutor's Office said on Thursday it was investigating Spain's Equality Ministry and Court of Auditors as part of a probe into suspected fraud involving EU funds used to buy electronic monitoring bracelets for gender-based violence cases.

• The devices are used to enforce restraining orders and other precautionary measures imposed in domestic violence cases, the EU prosecutor said.

• Equality Minister Ana Redondo said her ministry had been cooperating fully with European prosecutors for months and she was confident the money had been spent correctly

• Earlier this year, Spain changed the provider of the tracking devices after a data glitch impeded an unspecified number of criminal trials

• The EPPO, the EU's prosecution office, did not disclose further details of the investigation, which it said was being supported by Spanish police

• Redondo said the current contract had addressed shortcomings detected in the previous system and warned against undermining a programme that she said had helped protect more than 4,000 women

• The Court of Auditors said police visited its headquarters on Thursday at the request of EU prosecutors seeking information related to the probe, adding that it routinely provides judicial authorities with information from its audit work upon request

(Reporting by Emma Pinedo. Additional reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Alexander Smith and Ros Russell)