Crossword Genius

Raise embezzler’s case before European court (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

erect

'raise' is the definition.
(erecting is a kind of raising)

'embezzler's case before european court' is the wordplay.
'case' suggests removing the centre.
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'european' becomes 'e' (abbreviation e.g. EU).
'court' becomes 'ct'.
'embezzler' with its centre removed is 'er'.
'er'+'e'+'ct'='ERECT'

(Other definitions for erect that I've seen before include "Rigidly upright" , "Not having a list" , "Upright or vertical" , "Standing straight" , "Found" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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