Romanian businessman Adrian Sarbu, who owns one of the largest media groups in Romania, will spend the next 30 days in police custody. Sarbu owns the Mediafax Group, which includes Romania’s largest private news agency Mediafax and the largest daily business newspaper Ziarul Financiar.

The Bucharest Appeal Court approved the preventive arrest measure requested by the prosecutors who are investigating Sarbu for tax evasion, money laundering and embezzlement. The prosecutors held Adrian Sarbu on Monday evening, February 2. On Tuesday, they started a prosecuting Sarbu on these charges.

Sarbu, who indirectly controls Mediafax Group SA, Mediafax SA and Apropo Media SRL, allegedly asked the managers of these companies to find a scheme to avoid paying taxes to the state. They used a web of firms to close fictitious services contracts with the other firms in the group, in order to minimize taxes paid to the state.

Sarbu said the case against him was fabricated on political demand.

editor@romania-insider.com