Ex-Boxing federation head Rudel Obreja files criminal complaint against prosecutors in the „Bute Gala” file

Former boxer and head of the Romanian Boxing  Federation Rudel Obreja, sentenced to five years in prison for tax evasion in the „Bute Gala” file, in a first court, has filed a criminal complaint against the signatories of the SRI-DNA protocol.

Obreja announced on Facebook he had been subpoenaed to the Military Prosecutor’s Office within the Prosecutor’ Office upon the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

„I gave the statement as injured party and I will launch a civil action against those who have screwed my life and of my family for 7 years. I will announced the amount of the compensations I am asking in the near future. I have started these actions (to be read a very difficult fight) in the attempt to help normality being reinforced in my Country,” Obreja stated, adding that this match will be long and tough, but that he has plenty of resistance.

„The desire for victory comes from the desire that justice will be served to me. Nothing can build on lie, only the Truth will set us free from the straps that <our partners> had trapped us in”, he added.

The Supreme Court has postponed the final verdict in the „Bute Gala” file for June 5. The former Tourism Minister Elena Udrea has also been senteced to six years in prison in a first court, for bribe taking and abuse of office.

Anti-corruption prosecutors have asked for higher prison sentenced for all defendants, Udrea and Obreja including.

The “Bute Gala” trial kicked off in October 2015, with former Tourism Minister Elena Udrea being charged with bribe taking, abuse of office and attempt of EU funds embezzlement. Four of the defendants admitted their guilt, while asking to be judged by simplified procedure. Three of the defendants admitting the charges are Udrea’s former collaborators from the Tourism Ministry: Stefan Lungu, Udrea’s former personal aide, Gheorghe Nastasia, former secretary general of the ministry and former head of the National Investments Company, Ana Maria Topoliceanu. The other defendant who admitted guilt was businessman Dragos Botoroaga. During investigations, these four stated they had just been agents of some money that actually got to the ex-Tourism minister, Elena Udrea.

Former president of the Romanian Box Federation, Rudel Obreja was also indicted.

“Bute Gala” file was initiated in the spring of 2012, after the notification issued by the Anti-Fraud Fight Department. There are suspicions that, behind the box gala disputed by Lucian Bute and French Jean-Paul Mendy, it has been an embezzlement affair, with the main suspect being Rudel Obreja, head of the Romanian Box Federation at that time. Investigators suspected that Obreja approved the event to be organized by a company owned by him and thus, he would have received RON 8 million paid by the Tourism and Development ministry, run by Elena Udrea back then.

According to the prosecutors, the money has been initially intended for Romania’s touristic brand, but only RON 92,000 has been actually used for that purpose, with the rest being spent by Obreja to organize the box gala.

Later on, prosecutors extended investigations and Elena Udrea’s name popped up in the file early this year. Investigators prosecuted Udrea, asked the Parliament to lift her immunity and taken her into custody.

The former Development minister stayed behind bars three months and then placed under judicial control. Udrea claimed innocence all this time, arguing the prosecutors’ evidence are only grounded on her acquaintances’ reports.