Romanian investigators started searching several companies on Wednesday morning, May 6, in a case of tax evasion and money laundering that targeted local businessman Florian Walter, a former football club owner.

The police and prosecutors made raids in Prahova, Ilfov, Giurgiu, Cluj, Satu Mare, Brasov and Braila counties, as well as Bucharest, which 23 people and companies, according to judicial sources cited by local Mediafax.

The suspects allegedly signed fictitious contracts with ghost companies they controlled through intermediaries to avoid paying taxes. The damages in this case amount to some EUR 4.5 million.

One of the searched companies is Romprest, which provides sanitation services in Bucharest’s District 1. Investigators also searched the house of local businessman Florian Walter, Romprest's owner.

Walter was the main shareholder of FC Petrolul Ploiesti and Universitatea Cluj football clubs. Before that, he was one of the shareholders of Dinamo football club.

The anti-organized crime division DIICOT in Ploiesti handles the case.

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Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com