Scandal bursts between Romania's Realitatea Media management company Asesoft and owner Vantu

Romanian company Asesoft plans to file a penal complaint against Romanian media investor Sorin Ovidiu Vantu and his associates, who own Realitatea Media group, saying the investors have put pressure on Asesoft, which currently manages Realitatea Media, and have tried to interfere with the editorial side of the media company. “During some tensioned discussions, about the management and editorial activity of the Realitatea Media group, Sorin Ovidiu Vantu and his associates insisted on us changing the conditions in the management contract and signing an additional document to allow them interfere with the editorial activity. It was really surprising for us to learn that, without any results of the discussions, Sorin Ovidiu Vantu and his associates decided to use immoral and illegal methods, such as blackmail and threat,” writes an Asesoft statement. The Asesoft board members understood they deal with a mafia-type of group, coordinated by Sorin Ovidiu Vantu, a group involved in criminal activities – money laundry, blackmail, the use of threat with physical violence, the statement goes on. The Realitatea Media management company's representatives said they would use all needed legal mean to protect the EUR 10 million investment the group has made in Realitatea Media. This was part of a EUR 75 million investment plan Aseosft has for the next five years, according to the management contract signed in October last year. Asesoft group was set up in 2002 by businessman Sebastian Ghita. In 2009, Asesoft Distribution took over 51 percent of online IT&C retailer eMAG.ro. The company is part of the Asesoft group of companies, which also includes Asesoft International, Asesoft Net for web applications, Asesoft Smart, for audio-video solutions and Teamnet International, which supplies IT solutions for companies. Asesoft Distribution posted USD 140 million in turnover last year, up 10 percent on the previous year. editor@romania-insider.com