Fugitive Romanian businessman wanted for tax evasion held in the United Arab Emirates

Fugitive Romanian businessman Florian Walter, who owns the local sanitation company Romprest, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He fled the country in May, just before local anticorruption prosecutors started an investigation on him and his firms for tax evasion. Prahova Court declared Romanian businessman Florian Walter internationally wanted, after previously issuing an arrest warrant on his name. The Romanian Police cooperated with the Interpol Office in Abu Dhabi for catching Walter. “Based on the information we had, on May 29, the Romanian Police asked the Interpol National Central Bureau in Abu Dhabi to confirm his presence on United Arab Emirates territory,” reads a statement of the Romanian Police. On June 2, the police received confirmation that Florian Walter was arrested at the request of Romanian authorities and is being held by UAE authorities. Prahova Court and the Ministry of Justice already began the extradition procedures. The process may take some time, as Romania and the UAE don't have an extradition agreement. Romanian authorities investigate Walter in a case of tax evasion that damaged the state budget by EUR 4.5 million. He allegedly set up a criminal group of 23 people, which carried out tax evasion and money laundering activities between 2013 and 2014. The Romanian media recently reported that Walter was held in Colombia. Another Romanian businessman investigated for tax evasion. Court issues international arrest warrant for Romanian businessman. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com