Romanian Fmr Presidential Candidate Detained For Tax Evasion

Potarca was arrested for 24 hours along a nephew of his, who is accused of accessory to tax evasion. Police raided the Meteor neighborhood in Targu Jiu, where Potarca lives in a palace. Raids also targeted a few dozen other people suspected of involvement in various illicit businesses, people close to the investigation said.

Potarca and his nephew were brought in for questioning Monday evening and prosecutors detained them both.

„They are accused of evading some 500,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.2870) in taxes,” said Daniel Tica, spokesman for the local police in Gorj county.

Potarca denied any wrongdoing and said he is convinced he would be released when the detainment ordinance expires.

Potarca is the head of an organization of Roma employers in Romania and has managed several businesses over the years, mostly collecting scrap metal. He has been accused of tax evasion in the past.