Apa Nova Bucharesti is the Romanian subsidiary of French-owned Veolia Group, the world’s largest water services provider which also provides administers waste management and energy services to 17 European countries.
The allegations first came to light when police seized documents from Apa Nova’s offices on Sept. 24. Police also arrested two city hall officials and a businessman on suspicion of taking bribes from Apa Nova executives.
Prosecutors from the DNA said Roche set up secret bank accounts and fabricated contracts to transfer millions of euros to Romanian officials who, in return, approved rises in water rates.
Apa Nova has held a monopoly on Bucharest’s water and sewage services for 25 years, according to website Politico.
Since 2000, the price of tapwater in the Romanian capital has reportedly increased by more than 1,400 percent. The company’s revenues meanwhile increased from less than € 6 million (US$ 6.8 million) in 2000 to € 167 million (US$ 190 million) in 2014.
Roche was formally charged last week and put under judicial supervision for 60 days. Police are also investigating his successor, Laurent Lalague, who headed the firm until June, for similar offenses.
Prosecutors said that together, Roche and Lalague had paid more than € 12 million (US$ 13.65 million) in bribes, driving up the cost of water to consumers by 125 percent since 2008 alone.
They also hired former intelligence officials to “spy and make interceptions” on their own employees in order to keep the scam a secret, according to the DNA.
The agency said the aim had been to “prevent disclosure of data by company employees which would lead to the detection of illegal activities”.
Politico reports that neither Roche nor Lalague was available to comment.
Apa Nova denies wrongdoing, according to local newspaper Nine o’Clock.
Meanwhile, Mediafax reports that Apa Nova claims its water prices in Bucharest were only the 17th highest among those of 33 similar operators in Romania.
The company also said that the rise covered operating, redevelopment and modernization costs of water and sewage works in Bucharest.
It said it respected regulations and the terms of its contract, but made no comment on the corruption allegations presented by DNA prosecutors.
