Anticorruption Prosecutors Indict SIF Oltenia Head For Alleged Fraud

05 nov. 2007, 16:46, English

Alongside Staicu, the National Anticorruption Department, or DNA, also indicted Aurel Gabriel Coconea – former general manager of Transgaz SA Mediaş, Cornel Teodor Volintiru – former general manager of Sironex SA Craiova, Carmen Ioana Popescu and Vlad Rebega – former general manager and financial officer, respectively, of BDJ SA Craiova, Vasile Banciu – former deputy general manager of Asigurarea Nationala Romana SA, Adrian Georgel Bogza – former administrator of Delta Telecom SA, and Iulian and Tudorica Siclitaru, the DNA said Monday.

Anticorruption prosecutors established that August 2000 through July 2001, Aurel Coconea allegedly concluded illegally 14 payment agreements with five state-owned companies, with which he introduced four private companies controlled by Staicu in the financial circuit of gas transporters, distributors and beneficiaries. The four companies are BDJ SA Craiova, Padogaz SA Bucharest, Sironex SA Craiova and SC Dumimpex SM SRL Bucharest.

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At the notification of Transgaz, state-owned gas consumers paid RON13.25 million to the accounts of the four companies controlled by Staicu. Investigators established that the four companies, represented by Cornel Volintiru, Vlad Rebega, Carmen Ioana Popescu, Tudorica and Iulian Siclitaru, had no commercial relations with the paying companies, nor did they have any financial credibility.

In negotiating and concluding the payment agreements, Staicu allegedly benefited from the support of Adrian Bogza, who allegedly received RON900,000 to the account of Delta Telecom SA, as intermediation fee, according to DNA.

Total damages caused to Transgaz were estimated at EUR11.3 million.

Aurel Coconea is to be tried for abuse of office against public interest, and the other eight, including Staicu, will be tried for accessory to abuse of office.

The case file was sent to the Bucharest District 2 Courthouse.