Romanian prosecutors  have started investigating a banking fraud of some EUR 22 million and brought in 100 people for questioning on Thursday morning (November 1). Employees from the Economy Ministry and bankers from BCR, BRD and CEC Bank were detained, according to Romanian media.

Suspects come from the counties of Ilfov, Calarasi and Giurgiu, as well as from Bucharest.

The fraud was allegedly carried out by Aurel Seremet, the director of the National Loans Guarantee Fund, as well as Claudiu Cercel, the vice-president of BRD. Mihai Grigoroiu, Roşu Cătălin Ionuţ and Atanasiu Andrei, employees within the Economy Ministry, are also suspects in the fraud.

They are accused of having illegally obtained from the Economy Ministry, based on forged documents, financing for projects to acquire equipment via companies controlled by the leaders of the fraudulent group.

The prosecutors searched the homes of 50 people this morning, as well as company headquarters. The leader of the group was allegedly Daniel Ruse and the group obtained or tried to obtain 40 loans from 16 bank units across Romania by using forged documents. The total value of the damage was estimated at EUR 22 million.

editor@romania-insider.com