Romanian Finance minister Sebastian Vladescu asked the head of the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) Sebastian Bodu this weekend to initiate fiscal checks on operations of the Romanian Lottery National Company in 2003-2005.

The request comes following media reports on possible irregularities at the Romanian Lottery, a Ministry press release says.

The results of the ANAF controls will be made public, according to the release.

Romanian media have been warning about the extremely high earnings of Nicolae Crisea, general manager of the Lottery, who in 2004 registered incomes of over 5,13 billion ROL.

Earlier this year, anti-graft prosecutors started a criminal investigation on Nicolae Cristea, deputy PM George Copos and another businessman connected to Copos for their role in a series of real estate transactions between Copos’ company Ana Electronic and the Romanian Lottery.