According to a press release from the Economy Ministry, SNLO’s owner, in 2011, the company paid 8.8 million lei (almost EUR2 million) to sponsor football teams Pandurii Targu-Jiu and Minerul Motru, although these expenses had not been budgeted.
SNLO paid around RON700,000 for the rehabilitation of certain buildings owned by its subsidiaries, work which was registered as “other expenses for services provided by third parties,” but making no mention of the new buildings or the new value of the buildings that had allegedly been upgraded.
The mining company also unlawfully paid RON140,000 and earmarked an additional RON300,000 through a partnership with Constantin Brancusi University.
SNLO made “wasteful expenses” of RON220,000 in bonuses for the negotiation of the collective employment contract and paying for transport for certain employees.
Furthermore, the company failed to refund loans from the state budget in 2009, causing losses of RON3 million to state revenue.