Protest in Arad: dozens of defrauded customers demand refunds from car dealer under criminal investigation
More than 30 people protested on Friday outside Arad County Police Headquarters against a dealer accused of selling cars fictitiously. The damage exceeds 10 million lei, and the company administrator is under judicial control.
Dozens of defrauded customers take to the streets in Arad following a car fraud scheme
More than 30 defrauded customers protested on Friday outside Arad County Police Headquarters, according to Digi24, whilst a representative from Bucharest of an automobile manufacturer was being questioned in connection with a fraud case being pursued by prosecutors.
The spontaneous protest erupted after participants learned that the company representative was due to attend the questioning. Gendarmes and police officers monitored the area to prevent incidents.
Participants wore black t-shirts bearing the inscription "Defrauded", on which were noted the sum paid for the undelivered car and the date of purchase. People are demanding either reimbursement of the amounts paid or the delivery of vehicles. Some of them accuse the Bucharest representatives of the brand of failing to get involved in resolving the case.
"I am a defrauded customer who came from Timișoara; I came to purchase a car here because I was offered a discount that I would not have received in Timișoara. I paid for the car in full, which was in the showroom in December, but I never received it. I have had dozens of sleepless nights, much illness and stress caused by this company," declared one of the protesters, cited by Agerpres.
Some customers say they paid for the cars in full one or two years ago, sums ranging between 30,000 and 35,000 euros, without receiving the vehicles.
The protest was to continue until the end of the questioning, after which participants intended to proceed to the Prosecutor's Office. They announced that they would also protest in Bucharest, in front of the headquarters of the company that represents the brand on the Romanian market.
The investigation is being conducted by prosecutors from the Prosecutor's Office attached to Arad District Court. In a press release issued two months ago, the institution reported that the administrator of a company from Arad is being investigated after 83 people reported that they had purchased cars that were not delivered to them, with the calculated damage exceeding 10 million lei.
The administrator was initially held in custody, subsequently being placed under judicial control. Following searches carried out, prosecutors instituted a conservatory seizure of assets for the purpose of recovering the damage. The case concerns the offences of breach of trust, simple bankruptcy, fraudulent bankruptcy and fraud with particularly serious consequences, in continuing form.
Source: Digi24