View source for Nicolae Popa (businessman)

{{short description|Romanian criminal (born 1965)}}
{{BLP sources|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Nicolae Popa
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| birth_date    = 1965
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| occupation    = Business
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'''Nicolae Popa''' (born {{circa}} 1965) is a [[Romania]]n criminal. In 2006 he was sentenced [[trial in absentia|''in absentia'']] to 15 years in jail for fraud and embezzlement related to the 2000 collapse of the [[Fondul Național de Investiții]] (FNI) [[Ponzi scheme]], with an estimated prejudice of 1.2 million [[euro]]s spread between some 130,000 investors. The sentence was final; all appeals were exhausted. Popa was also sentenced to 12 years in jail for a different affair, [[Fondul Național de Acumulare]] (FNA), but this decision may still be appealed. On the run since 2002, Popa was apprehended in December 2009 in [[Jakarta]], [[Indonesia]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Omul lui Vântu de la FNI prins la Jakarta |url=http://www.capital.ro/fostul-director-gelsor-popa-nicolae-prins-la-jakarta-128820.html |work=Capital.ro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202101151/http://www.capital.ro/articol/fostul-director-gelsor-popa-nicolae-prins-la-jakarta-128820.html |archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref> [[Sorin Ovidiu Vântu]], a high-profile businessman and owner of several newspapers and television stations, declared after Popa's apprehension that he still considers Popa a friend and that the sentences are "a giant manipulation".<ref>{{in lang|ro}} [http://www.capital.ro/articol/omul-lui-vantu-de-la-fni-popa-nicolae-prins-la-jakarta-128820.html Omul lui Vântu de la FNI, Popa Nicolae, prins la Jakarta] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129055014/http://www.capital.ro/articol/omul-lui-vantu-de-la-fni-popa-nicolae-prins-la-jakarta-128820.html |date=2010-01-29 }}</ref><ref>{{in lang|ro}} [http://www.adevarul.ro/actualitate/eveniment/FNI_-_ultimul_act_0_164384182.html FNI – ultimul act]</ref>
In the final televised debate of the [[2009 Romanian presidential election|2009 presidential elections]], Popa's arrest was used as political ammunition by the incumbent president [[Traian Băsescu]] against runoff rival [[Mircea Geoană]], after the latter met with Vântu the night before the debate just after news of Popa's apprehension broke out.<ref>{{in lang|ro}} [http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/basescu-l-a-intrebat-pe-geoana-despre-intalnirea-de-miercuri-seara-cu-vantu-5152306 Băsescu l-a întrebat pe Geoană despre întâlnirea de miercuri seară cu Vântu]</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Popa, Nicolae}}
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Romanian white-collar criminals]]
[[Category:Romanian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Pyramid and Ponzi schemes]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
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