Defendants from "Transfer File ", sentenced to prison

The Court of Appeal decided on Monday to condemn the owner of Rapid, George Copos, to five years of imprisonment in "Transfer File ", according to Radio Romania News editor, Diana Surdu.

Impresario Ioan Becali received eight years of imprisonment, while his brother, Victor Becali, was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment.

Former Dinamo shareholder, Cristi Borcea, was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment prison.

The current manager of Steaua, Mihai Stoica, was sentenced to four years of imprisonment for crimes committed while he was president at Otelul Galati.

Former Romanian international, Gheorghe Popescu, initially received three years in prison after the magistrates suspended the sentence and gave him five years of probation.

Football club Gloria Bistrita president, Jean Pădureanu, was also sentenced to five years of testing.

The same punishment also received George Netoiu.

However, some decisions are not definitive and may be appealed.

Appeals and regrets

Romanian Football Federation president, Mircea Sandu, stated for Mediafax Monday that he cannot decide on the decisions of the Court of Appeal on the "Transfer File" because they are not definitive, and stressed that this case is about commercial action between clubs and players' agents.

Former football players and agent, Gheorghe Popescu, said on Monday on Sport.ro that he considers himself innocent to charges brought in the "Transfer File" and hinted that the only thing he regrets is that he embraced the agent activity at some point.

"I don’t feel guilty. As long as I consider myself innocent ... If you ask me now to have not been impresario, yes. I assume good things and less good things that I have done," said George Popescu.

Football players agent Victor Becali said on Sport.ro he would appeal to the High Court of Cassation and Justice in the judgment.

"We will talk to lawyers to prepare an appeal. What can I say otherwise? I do not know if an indictment can say that money is likely to be reached at Ioan and Victor Becali.

"There must be a demonstration of a cash flow. Could be a man sentenced to seven years of imprisonment for "very likely "and also because there is an estimated damage? Damage cannot be estimated, it has to be sure", said Victor Becali.

Gloria Bistrita club president, Jean Pădureanu, stated for Mediafax that the decision is extremely exaggerated and said that surely an appeal will be made.

"It is an unjust and exaggerated decision compared to the facts that are on file. In my case, everything was clear. There is the proposal for transfer and all the money entered the Club cashier.

"State institutions have verified this at the time and everything was fine. I do not want to accuse anyone, but I do not know on what basis, on what documents was taken this decision.

"Probably this judge thought so, but my lawyer will certainly appeal," said Jean Pădureanu.

Compensation to NAFA

The Court of Appeal decided that to some of the defendants to be seized some wealth.

In addition, the defendants are required to pay certain amounts also to NAFA as follows:

• George Copos - 63,000 lei
• Mihai Stoica - 320,000 lei
• Cristi Borcea - 610,000 lei
• Jean Pădureanu and Ioan Becali - 845,000 lei
• Gheorghe Popescu - 328,000 lei
• Ioan Becali and Gheorghe Popescu - 2,230,000 lei
• Cristi Borcea and George Netoiu - 605,000 lei
• Cristi Borcea and Ioan Becali - 164,000 lei

Cristi Borcea and Becali brothers also have to pay to Sports High School Timisoara the equivalent of the amount of 265,000 dollars plus the interest.

Acquitted at first instance

Bucharest Court acquitted the eight defendants on April the 3rd from the transfers file in football, George Copos, Mihai Stoica, Jean Pădureanu, Gheorghe Popescu,
Gheorghe Netoiu, Cristian Borcea, brothers Ioan and Victor Becali.

They were sued in 2008 by DNA prosecutors for offenses of tax evasion, money laundering and fraud.

The Court also raised then the insurer distraint on club FC Dinamo, Rapid, Otelul Galati and Gloria Bistrita accounts and those of brothers Becali.

In addition, the Bucharest Court rejected the civil actions filed by NAFA and some clubs.

Prosecutor session, Cristian Anghel, asked the court to sentence all defendants with execution sentence, those ranging from minimum penalty for Gheorghe Popescu and Jean Pădureanu, and its maximum for Ioan and Victor Becali.

On October the 2nd 2008, the National Anticorruption Direction prosecuted George Copos, owner and president of the football club Rapid Bucharest, Mihai Stoica, former head at football club Otelul Galati, Jean Pădureanu, chairman of Otelul Galati United football club, George Popescu, a former employee of the company "Becali Sport".

All were charged with fraud, repeated tax fraud and money laundering.

In the same case were prosecuted Gigi Netoiu, a former shareholder of the football club Dinamo, for fraud, tax evasion and money laundering, Cristian Borcea and brothers Ioan and Victor Becali, impresarios, all charged with fraud, tax evasion, repeated laundering money and association to commit crimes.

DNA supports that the deeds of the eight defendants had caused a total loss of nearly 1.5 million dollars against the state and over 10 million dollars in damage of four clubs.

Prosecutors also alleged that some of the money obtained from the transfers would have been "washed" through some offshore companies.

The indictment established by the prosecutor refers to 12 transfers of some Romanian football by clubs Dinamo Bucharest, Rapid Bucharest, Otelul Galati and Gloria
Bistrita to clubs abroad in the period 1999-2005.

The trial had 39 terms and ended after three years and four months.


Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea
MTTLC, Bucharest University