The police force said that the eight month investigation had demonstrated that the pair “had falsified a power of attorney that endowed powers on one of them to access bank accounts and insurance policies” worth the aforementioned amount.

The statement added that one of the pair had taken advantage of proximity to the victim, then aged 81 and now deceased, to forget the document based on a false declaration of consent.

A search of their home resulted in the seizure of over a million euros in cash alongside two high performance vehicles.

Three others may also face charges within the framework of this case with charges ranging from qualified fraud, counterfeiting and money laundering whilst the two family members were remanded into custody to await trial.