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INVESTIGAȚIE. Cartelul din Carpați

Recorder・52 minutes read

Romanian businessmen buy a castle in France for renovation, with suspicions of Mayor Vlad Oprea's involvement in funding and project management. Mayor Oprea, connected to Beniamin Gonț and Lucian Bode, faces scrutiny for questionable financial dealings and luxury villa constructions, raising concerns of corruption and misuse of public resources.

Insights

  • The renovation of Château d'Orthez in France involves a significant financial investment exceeding two million euros, with Romanian businessmen Beniamin Gonț and Mayor Vlad Oprea heavily involved in the project.
  • Mayor Vlad Oprea of Sinaia, Romania, is linked to various questionable business practices, including exploiting land without proper rights, extending properties without permits, and potentially sharing profits with Beniamin Gonț through intermediaries.
  • The close relationship between Mayor Oprea and various individuals, such as Emil Nenciu and Lucian Bode, raises suspicions of corruption, favoritism, and conflicts of interest, exemplified by lavish construction projects and opulent celebrations that blur the lines between personal and public interests.

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Recent questions

  • Who is involved in the renovation of Château d'Orthez?

    Beniamin Gonț and Mayor Vlad Oprea

  • What is the estimated cost of Château d'Orthez's restoration?

    Over two million euros

  • What businesses do the Gonț brothers own?

    Trailer and street business in Sinaia

  • What questionable actions are associated with Mayor Vlad Oprea?

    Exploiting land, lacking permits, and questionable business practices

  • Who attended Mayor Vlad Oprea's birthday celebration in Foisor?

    Politicians, businessmen, and hotel owners

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Summary

00:00

"Romanian Mayor's Castle Investment Raises Questions"

  • A castle in a small town in France was bought by Romanian businessmen to convert it into a hotel and restaurant.
  • The town, Orthez, was skeptical about the plans due to the need for significant funds to renovate the dilapidated building.
  • Initial reports inaccurately mentioned a Romanian originator of the project, Benjamin Gont, who was actually from Sinaia.
  • Gont, a former medical student, was involved in local politics and had close ties with Mayor Vlad Oprea of Sinaia.
  • Oprea, a long-standing mayor, had a close relationship with Gont, involving real estate transactions and shared activities.
  • The farmer living near the castle in France confirmed interactions with Romanians, including Oprea, who visited the site frequently.
  • Oprea's active involvement in the castle's renovation suggested a deeper connection beyond a casual visitor.
  • The mayor of Orthez refused to disclose details of his meeting with the Romanians, hinting at a possible involvement of Oprea in the investment.
  • When questioned directly about Oprea's role, the mayor evaded the inquiry, indicating discomfort with the line of questioning.
  • The interactions between Oprea and Gont, both in Romania and France, hinted at a strong bond and potential shared ownership of the castle in Orthez.

13:36

Château d'Orthez: Financial Mystery Unveiled

  • The restoration of Château d'Orthez involves a significant financial investment due to its ruinous state, with an estimated cost exceeding two million euros.
  • The architect, Eric Bonnaventure, designed the project to transform the castle into a hotel-restaurant, but refused to disclose details or costs due to confidentiality clauses.
  • Despite the architect's reluctance, it was revealed that Romanian mayor Oprea is heavily involved in the renovation alongside Beniamin Gonț.
  • Workers from Romania were present at the castle to carry out restoration work, indicating active involvement in the project.
  • Daniel Gonț, Beniamin's brother and a friend of Mayor Oprea, confirmed their close relationship and involvement in the castle's restoration.
  • Daniel Gonț expressed frustration at being questioned about the project, emphasizing that it is Beniamin Gonț's property, not Mayor Oprea's.
  • The Gonț family's businesses, including a trailer in Sinaia's central park, generate profits of around 850,000 euros, far below the investment needed for the castle restoration.
  • The Gonț brothers' street business in Sinaia operates at high prices, with customers expressing surprise at the cost of services compared to other countries.
  • Investigative efforts revealed that the Gonț brothers' financial resources do not align with the multi-million euro investment in the castle restoration.
  • The summary concludes with the investigative team returning to Romania, debunking the notion of the Gonț brothers having the financial capacity for the extensive castle renovation project.

24:05

Corruption and Bribery Scandal in Sinaia

  • The kid was given 5 minutes for 15 lei (3 euros) to play, but wanted more time.
  • The business location of the Gonț brothers was strategically placed with the approval of the Sinaia town hall.
  • Mayor Vlad Oprea's family businesses, like Privacons SRL, operate questionably, exploiting land without proper rights.
  • Privacons SRL runs a guesthouse with more rooms than allowed, built on town hall land received during Oprea's mayoral term.
  • Oprea's family controls a gas station lacking fire safety authorization, sanctioned with a 50,000 lei fine.
  • The Oprea family owns a chalet-restaurant extended without a permit, sold by the mayor to his brother-in-law at a low price.
  • Oprea allegedly recruits intermediaries to run businesses in their names, with profits shared with Oprea and Beniamin Gonț.
  • Emil Nenciu, once close to Oprea, claims to have delivered envelopes of money from local businessmen to the mayor.
  • Nenciu participated in rigged tenders at Oprea's request, ensuring multiple bidders for transparency.
  • A company paid 250,000 euros to Oprea's mother's company before winning a lucrative tender, raising suspicions of bribery.

36:15

Mayor's Lavish Villa Construction Raises Concerns

  • Gokhan Bugatir, the Turkish investor representative, refused to explain his close ties with the Oprea family, hinting at a complaint to the Turkish embassy.
  • The mayor's mother's company, recipient of large sums, began constructing a massive 1,000 square meter house in a prime historical district near iconic city landmarks.
  • The mayor's actions reveal a prioritization of personal interests over local administration, exemplified by the lavish villa construction.
  • The land for the villa was acquired questionably, initially belonging to a descendant of a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and later transferred to the mayor's mother's company.
  • A 70-meter street, funded with public money, was exclusively built for the villa, showcasing further misuse of resources.
  • The construction site of the villa saw workers from the mayor's mother's company and Sinaia City Hall, raising concerns of conflict of interest.
  • Videos confirm the mayor's direct involvement in the villa's construction, with his constant presence and interactions with workers.
  • Beniamin Gonț, a key figure, was observed at the construction site, indicating a close relationship with the mayor despite official disassociation.
  • The mayor evaded questions regarding the villa's ownership and construction, showcasing a lack of transparency and accountability.
  • The mayor's celebration at a state castle, against regulations, with a high-profile entourage, further highlights his mingling of personal and public interests.

49:53

Controversy Surrounding Mayor's Luxurious Birthday Celebration

  • Mayor Vlad Oprea's birthday celebration in Foisor raised questions about the choice of venue over city restaurants.
  • The convoy of opulent cars at the event included politicians, businessmen, and hotel owners connected to the Sinaia town hall.
  • Lucian Bode, former Minister of the Interior, was a notable guest at the party, showcasing his close ties with Mayor Oprea.
  • Oprea and Bode's relationship extended to the construction of a vacation villa in Sinaia, with questionable land transactions.
  • Bode's purchase of land from Oprea's sister and subsequent villa construction raised suspicions of favoritism and connections.
  • The construction company, Regal WGB Aianis, was involved in building villas for both Oprea and Bode, with Bode denying knowledge of the land's ownership.
  • The completion of Oprea's 1,000 square meter villa in Sinaia, along with Bode's nearing completion villa, highlighted their luxurious lifestyles.
  • International connections and properties abroad hinted at further complexities within this group of individuals, centered around Mayor Oprea.
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