Romanian prosecutors start new probe on big local IT&C group

The prosecutors of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) carried out searches in Bucharest and near-by places yesterday, at the headquarters of the UTI Group within the Otopeni Airport, in a case of money laundering and tax evasion. UTI Group is one of the biggest players in the local IT&C and security market. It was founded by the Romanian investor Tiberiu Urdareanu who was accused of bribery and admitted the charges last year. The estimated damage in the current file exceeds EUR 4.6 million. It targets the UTI vice-president Ion Obloja and several members of his family. According to prosecutors, Obloja and his family members set up several companies that provided fictitious services to UTI to reduce the group’s taxable profit. Obloja’s firms would issue invoices for the fake services and would take the money cash from UTI, according to the investigators. Prosecutors will seize over 50 real estate properties, as well as luxury cars, according to judicial sources, reports local Profit.ro. UTI replied to these accusations by saying that Ion Obloja had stopped working for the group in 2011 and that no searches were carried out at the group’s headquarters. editor@romania-insider.com