ROMANIAN COALITION FOR A CLEAN GOVERNMENT, an anticorruption watchdog coalition formed by Group for Social Dialogue, Cartel Alfa Union, Civic Alliance, Romanian Academic Society –secretariat-, Center for Independent Journalism, Timisoara Society and Academy of Advocacy released on May, 18th, 2008 the results of monitoring candidates running for county presidents in June 1st local elections.
It is the first time when the election will take place directly. Candidates will be elected by all the voting age population of a county from the first round, regardless of turnout.
The monitoring of political integrity was initiated in 2004 and since then practiced on various types of elections. Criteria followed are indictments for corruption or embezzlement, undue profit from conflict of interest, repeated political migration to get or keep office, cooperation with Communist political police.
This monitoring round was sponsored by Open Society Institute and GOF, a program of the British Government. The information sources are local media, recordings in the Commerce Register, statements of assets and conflicts of interest by incumbents (required by law), public statements of General Anticorruption Direction (DNA).
Names on the list include only candidates who do not fulfill criteria agreed by the Coalition with main political parties in 2004.
The following candidates running for County Council President have been monitored by Romanian Coalition for a Clean Government. They do not fulfill our integrity criteria.
These candidates do not meet the integrity criteria set up by the Coalition for a Clean Government with the main political parties in 2004. Only the main political parties (with over 5% at county level) have been monitored, namely the Conservative Party (PC), the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Democrat Liberal Party (PDL), the New Generation Party (PNG), the Hungarian Democratic Party (UDMR) and Hungarian Civic Union (UCM). The absence of a candidate from any other party on the list indicates that the respective candidate was not verified and it does not stand for an integrity certificate.
1. ALBA
Nicolae Popa, Liberals (PNL) candidate, is a political migrant. He migrated from the Social Democratic Party (PDSR) in 1996 in order to found APR (Alliance for Romania) then abandoned it when it fused with the National Liberal Party (PNL). He joined PUR, today known as the Conservative Party (PC) which he later left to join the Liberal Party.
2. ARAD
Nothing to single out among candidates of political parties.
3. ARGES
Cristian Boureanu, Democrat Liberal candidate (PD-L) is currently investigated by anti-graft prosecutors (DNA) for abuse in office against the interests of the state. As a board member of the Romanian Lottery in 2000 Boureanu signed an additional act to the digitalization contract of the Lottery with the Greek company Intracon in terms seen to have disadvantaged the state. He is investigated together with 10 other people.
Constantin Nicolescu, Social Democratic candidate (PSD) in his position as president of the County Council had, according to press reports, conflicting interests when he needed to rule on a public tender organized for the “Milk and Corn program” (Cornul si Laptele) since his wife was working at Lactag, the company that won the tender. The competing company, Vlasia lost, but challenged the decision and won. The County Council was compelled to pay 6 billion Romanian Ron as damages which where supposed to be repaid by Constantin Nicolescu. However, this is not the only controversial business in which the press singled out Nicolescu’s conflicting interests.
4 BACAU
Ionel Palar, the Liberal candidate, is a political migrant. He migrated from Romania’s Popular Party to PUR (current Conservative Party) and then chose PNL. SC CET SA marketing director (since August 2006) and a deputy of Bacau, he rented for his private company, Luxor, logistics and land from CET for which he pays, according to local newspapers, an undervalued rent.
Vasile Nistor, Democrat Liberal’s candidate, served for several terms as a deputy. He had an evacuation process with the State Protocol Properties Administration Agency (RA-APPS) as he refused to leave the protocol house after his mandate expired.
Constantin Avram, Conservative candidate (PC) owns Consizo Serv which undertook several projects with Bacau’s City Hall while Avram held public functions in the local administration (he was counselor, prefect and County Council head). He migrated from PNL to PD (now PD-L) to PC.
5. BIHOR
Kiss Alexandru, Hungarian Democratic Union in Romania (UDMR) candidate and County Council president is frequently portrayed by local newspapers as a businessman who took advantage of his position and had several problems with the justice sector in his past. He was involved in two penal investigations, one for smuggling electronic products through his company and another one for producing porn materials (he received administrative fines).
Stefan Seremi, Democrat Liberal candidate (PD-L), was mentioned in the „Decentralized Corruption” report of the Center for Judicial Resources. Moreover, he was criticized in the press for conflicting interests and incompatibility (2004) because, as County Council President he was managing Crisana Baile Felix complex where the local City Hall held a stake.
Mihai Bar, Social Democratic candidate (PSD), was on the 2004 black list when he was running for mayor. During his County Council Presidency of Bihor (1996-2000) he was accused of facilitating various businesses for Micula Brothers, owners of European Drinks holding. Among the signaled businesses is the Crisana hotel in Baile Felix which the latter bought in advantageous conditions from the local administration.
6. BISTRIŢA NASAUD
Viorel Pupeza, Conservative candidate, is a political migrant: he left Greater Romania Party(PRM) for Social Democratic Party and then joined he Conservative Party. He held public functions during the Communist period as member of the central leadership of the Communist Youth Union (CC of UTC).
Gheorghe Marinescu, Social Democratic candidate, current County Council President was singled out in several controversies in local newspapers. The press reads that he hired his son, Marius Marinescu as technical director at Aquabis, a company subordinated to the Council.
7. BOTOSANI
Constantin Contac, Social Democratic candidate and current County Council President was sued by anti-graft prosecutors last year for money laundering, false statements and incompatible financial operations. Prosecutors declared that he earned an illegal wealth evaluated at about 19.3 million Romanian Ron. During this time, Contac bought a holiday house, a 2006 BMW X5, a 2007 Audi A6 and nine Iveco utility trucks for the company.
According to the press, his wife’s company, Comaliment SA won a 2 million Romanian Ron contract within the „Milk and Corn” program undertook by the County Council.
8. BRĂILA
Gheorghe Bunea Stancu, a Social Democratic (PSD) candidate, former counselor and current County Council President, he was oftentimes portrayed in the central and local press for conflicting interests: his companies took up contracts from the Council. Through Bursagrirom, one of the companies where Bunea holds the majority of shares, he obtained all contracts in sports and social house construction projects starting 2003. What is more, Bursagrirom holds shares at other four companies, among which Concivia and Hercules. The press underlines that starting 2005, when he became Council President, Convicia has been present in several projects contracted by the Council. Another controversial business is the rental of the local port to one of his companies.
9. BRASOV
Aristotel Cancescu, Liberal candidate and County Council President, was involved in several press scandals. He was the object of a penal complaint put forward by the Romanian Audiovisual Council (CNA) for allegedly making false statements that he does not own CANET SRL, an intermediate company through which he sold the licenses of radio Mix FM which he owned. Cancescu was criticized in the local press for other house transactions with the County Council, the legal situation of which was blurry. Central newspaper Gandul reads that Cancescu distributed the money destined for local City Halls as he liked, favoring his party.
10. BUZAU
Nothing to single out among candidates of political parties.
11. CARAS-SEVERIN
Nothing to single out among candidates of political parties.
12. CALARASI
Nothing to single out among candidates of political parties.
13. CLUJ
Marius Nicoara, the Liberal candidate, is County Council President. Nicoara did not make public his mandatory statement of interests. The press singled out the presence of his brother as a shareholder of MC Management Consulting, which is associated in Aviation Management Consulting with Airport Consulting GMBH, which won the feasibility contract for the local airport expansion works.
Vasile Soporan, Social Democratic candidate. He collaborated with the Communist-era political police, the “Securitate”: he was recruited in 1971 as he admits while he was a high school pupil. He was introduced in Securitate mayor Ioan Butura’s network and received the code name of “Vasea”. He was thus an informer during 1971-1979. In 2000, the national body studying the Securitate Archives (CNSAS) released the information arguing that his collaboration file is „insignificant”. During his time as prefect, 2001-2004, local newspapers read that Soporan received in concession a plot of land from Rasca City Hall. In 2006, the Prefect’s Control Body discovered that the concession was illegal because the land was taken for 49 years, at a lower price than the one on the market, without a public tender. Moreover, the documents breached several legal provisions. The contract was annulled after the control.
14. CONSTANTA
Gheorghe Dragomir, Liberal Candidate and a deputy, forgot to mention in his wealth statement that he owns several companies: Complex Histria SRL and CVT Media Group. Dragomir is member of the Bratianu Foundation whose president is Matei Constantin, a controversial businessman. Local newspapers read that the foundation undertook several contracts from the Council and the City Hall.
Nicusor Constantinescu, Social Democratic candidate and current County Council President is associated in several companies and businesses with current Mayor Radu Mazare. He is considered responsible for blocking finances for Constanta’s Exhibition Pavilion, a program financed through PHARE funds. Thus, the Integration Ministry was compelled to pay back some 3.24 million euro. The newspapers read that he initiated several draft decisions of the County Council in which he allocated money from the budget to companies owned by his friends from the sports sector. In 2006, he was found sleeping at the wheel in the middle of a cross road in Constanta. Police officers broke the window in order to get him out of the car. However, the police did not test his alcohol level as they were too afraid.
15. COVASNA
Nothing to single out among candidates of political parties.
16. DIMBOVITA
Gabriel Plaiasu, PNL candidate and member of the MIJA industrial park and county counselor. In this quality, he approved a capital increase for Mija by associating it with other companies: two of them owned by businessman Fathi Taher (Quatron International Investment Co. Ltd. in Jordan and Rivta Handelsges M.B.H. in Austria).
Thus, Taher became board president of Mija and the County Council kept only 40% of the shares. The newspapers read that behind this business, there was a real estate transaction favorable for Taher.
Gheorghe Ana, PSD candidate and current County Council President. Under his direction, the MIJA industrial park was set up and the capital increase was approved which lead to the Council’s loss of the majority of shares. The newspapers read that behind this business, there was a real estate transaction favorable for Taher.
17. DOLJ
Victor Odolbasa, New Generation Party (PNG) member, is a political migrant: he migrated from the Greater Romania Party to the Social Democratic one, to eventually settle in PNG.
18. GALATI
Marius Gerard Necula, Democrat Liberal (PD-L) candidate, migrated from the Social Democratic Party to run for the County Council. While prefect, he had contracts with Sidex steel mill through the Mims SRL company, where he held shares. He sold steel sheets and benzene. His associate in the company was Platica Vidovici. The newspapers read that the companies held by Necula and family took advantage of numerous debt spread-outs while Social Democrats held the government.
Victor Dobre, Liberal candidate. The press reads that as Ministry of the Interior state secretary for the liaison with prefects he took advantage of a governmental decision ruling that the budgetary reserve funds allocate 100,000 USD for companies holding contracts with the Free Customs area Galati. Only Dobre’s companies held these contracts: Mairon SA and Mervin SRL, where Dobre and his wife, Xenia Dobre were both associates through SC Codis SA.
As state secretary, Dobre managed to allocate 100,000 USD from the budgetary reserve funds two years ago. The money was allocated to cover the amount one of his companies, Mervin SRL, had to pay for the rent of a plot of land in the Free Customs area Galati.
Eugen Durbaca, a former mayor, Conservative candidate and current County Council President. Durbaca was an active member in Romania’s Communist Party and glided through the Social Democratic Party, ApR (Romania’s Popular Action) and PUNR (Romania’s National Unity Party) to end up in the Conservative camp. He had serious problems with the justice system, including a prison sentence in 1992 even though many of the penal complaints were postponed or annulled. His family built a business empire that took advantage, according to the local and central media, of special, privileged conditions from local authorities. They received plots of land in concession and several contracts and associations. In one case only, a local court cancelled the concession claimed by Saturn 2005 association. Both his son and daughter in law were involved in the association.
19. GIURGIU
Dan Victor Nitulescu, Democrat Liberal candidate, former prefect, former Social Democrat until he changed camps just for the chance to run for office. While prefect (2000-2004) Nitulescu was board member of the Zona Libera Giurgiu, subordinated to the County Council. Plus, he holds 20% shares at “Giurgiu Terminal Container” where Zona Libera Giurgiu is associated (with 20% of the shares). In 2003, Zona Libera Giurgiu was privatized and local newspapers read that the he took part in the meeting ruling the privatization.
Niculae Badalau, Social Democratic candidate and current PSD deputy and former prefect until 2004, was accused by local newspapers for taking advantage of his public position. He obtained a 3 million euro profit after ruling that a plot of land outside town was inside town. While sub-prefect in 2003, the press reads, he took advantage of the money allocated for school, hospital and church renovations. He redirected they money towards Sambi Impex SRL from Bolitin Vale owned by his wife, Rodica Badalau and towards SC Geo Nic SRL from Giurgiu. These two companies regularly won all contracts.
20. GORJ
Ilie Morega, Liberal candidate, was sued by anti-graft prosecutors in the locally-famous “Money for the party” case. He was accused of using his authority and influence in order to obtain money from various public institutions to finance the Liberal Party’s electoral campaign. Morega is investigated for the way he gained over 3 million Romanian Ron for two of his foundations. He migrated from the Communist Party to Romania’s National Salvation Front (Frontul Salvarii Nationale) and then to Social Democrats, ApR, Social Democrats again and PNL-Campeanu. He then chose to flee to the Greater Romanian Party but then returned to the Liberal (PNL) camp.
Ionel Mantog, Democrat Liberal candidate, was sent to court by national anti-graft prosecutors in September 2006 under corruption charges in the so-called “The luxurious displaced” case. Namely, it is about the way he built a villa in a luxury neighborhood from the funds of his company, Compania Lignit by taking away some peasant houses bought almost for free from their owners.
Ion Călinoiu, Social Democratic candidate and current County Council President. He was one of the 21 beneficiaries of “villas for the luxurious displaced” affair. For only 80 million Romanian Rol (the Romanian currency before denomination), in 2004 he bought two modest houses in Stiucani, on a plot of land on which Compania Lignitului was to open a working unit. For the plot of land, the coal company built him a villa worth several billion Romanian Rol.
Nicolae Mischie, New Generation Party (PNG) candidate, former County Council President, was investigated in some 10 penal files. The main accusations varied from taking bribe to traffic of influence to abuse in office while he ran the County Council and smuggling hunting guns. In July last year he was condemned by a local court to four years for abuse in office and traffic of influence. The case has been appealed and is ongoing at a court in Timisoara, Western Romania. Mischie has another suspended sentence of one year in the file where he was accused that he did not declared a hunting gun. Even though he has tremendous debts, Mischie’s family is still one of the richest in the County: they own seven residential properties in Gorj and Bucharest, some of which were subject of retrocession and brought him face-offs with DNA anti-graft prosecutors.
21. HARGHITA
Szasz Jeno, PCM candidate, mayor of Odorheiu-Secuiesc, directed the attempts of the local council to evacuate an orphanage pertaining to a religious group by annulling its donation act. He practically rules the city by himself since the local council was dissolved in 2005 by a prefect’s decision because UCM and UDMR political controversies could not lead to any decision.
22. HUNEDOARA
Cristian Vladu, Democrat Liberal candidate. Until 2005 he was board member of the Societatea Reva Simeria (now holds 20% of shares) which repairs train wagons. Grupul Feroviar Roman was the majority shareholder in Reva. He simultaneously held the post of trade director at CFR Marfa Timisoara. The newspaper reads that between state owned CFR-Marfa and privately owned Reva Simeria, trade relations existed while Vladu was prefect of Hunedoara and was a board member of the two.
Mircea Molot, Liberal candidate, current County Council President. He was accused by counselors of arbitrarily distributing funds, oftentimes without the vote of the council. The newspaper reads that some buildings were transferred from public patrimony to private ownership in order to favor a business. During his term, public-private partnerships were concluded with Sever Muresan’s companies while the controversial businessman was accused of fiscal evasion by a French court.
23. IALOMITA
Nothing to single out among candidates of political parties.
24. IASI
Traian Dobre, Liberal candidate. He was a Liberal starting 1991 but in 1992 he passed on to the Social Democrats (right after the latter won elections). In 2005 (right after D.A Alliance of Democrats and Liberals won the general elections) he returned to the Liberal Party. Local newspapers read that by the end of 2004, Comat SA, his company, ceded the rights of over 4.7 acres of land in the outskirts of Trifesti and Grajuri for which he initially paid 60,000 RON. In return, however, he received a property in an excellent area near Lake Ciric, a property which, at the time, valued at least 20 times more.
25. ILFOV
Nothing to single out among candidates of political parties.
26. MARAMURES
Nothing to single out among candidates of political parties.
27. MEHEDINTI
Liviu Mazilu, Liberal candidate. The newspapers read about Mazilu’s involvement in the “evaluation charts” scandal. If one Liberal director managed to rule out Social Democratic members from a decision-making position, the former received 10 points, while for closing a service contract with companies belonging to Social Democrats, one would receive 20 points. However, for hiring a Liberal member, one would receive 5 points and for hiring a Liberal member on an executive position, one would receive 10 points. Mazilu admitted the existence of such charts.
28. MUREŞ
Edit Emoke Lokody, Hungarian Democratic Party candidate, current County Council President. During his mandate, he hired his daughter as subordinate.
Ciprian Dobre, Liberal candidate and prefect, was accused, according to local newspapers, of forging official papers by the heirs of the Banffy and Kemeny families who had claimed back property rights over forested land.
28. NEAMT
Nothing to single out among candidates of political parties.
30. OLT
Marin Ionica, Democrat Liberal candidate. He was County Council President for the Social Democrats and joined Democrat Liberals in March, 2008. The newspapers read that while president of the Council and member of Regional South West Development Agency’s board, SC Galactica, where his son held shares, received PHARE funds.
SC Galactica was investigated by the Fraud Investigating Office for the way it came to receive the funds with subsidized interest rates while his father served as County Council President. The county employment agency needs to recover from Galactica some 10,000 RON, the sum received by the company for a job making project, since it failed to create jobs. He was also investigated for disparities in distributing SAPARD programs.
Paul Stanescu, Social Democratic candidate. According to local newspapers, Paul Stanescu was involved in an arranged public tender for Agroservice SA Corabia, a case which went to court. The tender was cancelled by the court and some companies submitted official complaints to anti-graft prosecutors.
Jenel Copilau, Liberal candidate and current County Council President. He was accused by the press that on the public procurement lists of the Council, companies related to his entourage are to be found. Among others, there is Vlad Construct, the company which built Copilau a villa in Novaci-Ranca. Vald Construct obtained consistent contracts with the council to improve a cultural center in Spineni – 1,5 million euro, and to rehabilitate the County Museum – 10 billion Romanian Ron. The press reads that as president of the council, he also gave out several contracts involving public money to companies owned by close friends or party colleagues. Senator Ion Toma, his Liberal party head received through his Scadt SA company a 88 billion Romanian Rol contract. Another colleague, Mircea Zaveca through his company Padrino SRL obtained a county roads rehabilitation project. He migrated from Greater Romania Party (PRM), to the Popular Party (Ciontu). From there, he fled to the Social Democratic camp to finally settle with the Liberals. He was accused that, a day before local elections, he split money from the reserve fund of the Council to those city halls ran by Liberals.
31. PRAHOVA
Mircea Cosma, Social Democratic Party candidate, former County Council President was accused by the press that during his term he privatized the county unit of SC Transport Calatori SA to his family’s company, SC Unitehnica SA, owned by his wife, Elena Cosma with over 33.24% of shares, by Mircea Cosma with 15.8% shares and by his daughter with 1% of the shares. Moreover, it was the only company to take part in the public tender. Unitehnica became main shareholder in Unitrans, which, under his term in 2002 reached a profit of 36.3 billion Rol. However, in 1999, this company could barely pass the 13 billion Rol level. Other companies controlled by Mircea Cosma also increased their profits while Social Democrats were in power.
32. SATU MARE
Ovidiu Silaghi, Liberal candidate. Current Trade minister, Ovidiu Silaghi was, for over 10 years, up to April 2007, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (CCIB) in Satu Mare. He initiated the governmental decision 1.187/2007 which targeted CCIB. He was accused by both CCIB officials and newspapers that he had conflicting interests in this decision.
33. SALAJ
Tiberiu Marc, Social Democratic Party candidate and current County Council President. During 1986-1989 he worked for the Communist secret structures at the Counter-intelligence Department of the Securitate. The National College for Studying the Securitate Archives (CNSAS) has sent his file to court. According to the newspapers, most of the wealth he owns was accumulated while he was president of the Council in 2001-2004.
34. SIBIU
Ion Candrea, Social Democratic candidate. Newspapers read that while he was state secretary within the Labor ministry and president of the Employment Association (ANOFM) within the ministry, he offered a credit to a company associated with his mother’s, a prosper business woman.
Gheorghe Dicu, PNL candidate. According to the press, he is vice-president and associate at SC Safa SRL that undertakes contracts with the county council where he also serves as vice-president. The company takes up contracts from the City Hall too. Safa installed new double-layered windows at the Astra County Library. Newspapers read that when he was named vice president in the Council in 2005, his company profits doubled and so did the number of employees and its capital.
35. SUCEAVA
Gavril Marza, PSD candidate, current County Council President. He was indicted by anti-graft prosecutors in a penal file together with deputy Ioan Stan for funding their party through a foundation, Armonia (parties cannot be financed by a foundation). The two used their influence to determine various economic agents to sponsor the foundation and obtained some 100,000 dollars for the Social Democratic electoral campaign. The case however has been suspended after a challenge at the Constitutional Court. Marza’s daughter is associated in the Germancu company that received PHARE funds for setting up a wood chopping factory. The money was received through a regional development agency whose presidency was also held by Gavril Marza. He later hired his wife, Elena Marza at the County Council as senior counselor.
36. TELEORMAN
Alexandru Mocanu, Democrat Liberal candidate. He promoted his family’s interests by initiating a draft law proposing to wipe out some 400 billion Rol debt for ten beer factories. Among these, SC Bere si Malt ROBEMA from Rosiorii de Vede where his wife was chief engineer and shareholder. This society held a debt of 203 billion Rol at the time the law was proposed.
Liviu Dragnea, Social Democratic candidate, current County Council President. He was frequently accused by the press that he made a fortune while holding the county presidency and he engaged in disadvantageous businesses for the state but very profitable for friendly companies. For example, he was accused of approving the procurement, without public tender, of a used ferryboat for three quarters of a million euro even though it was old and functional only up to 2008. The company that acquired the boat had a 228.000 euro profit. Before this spring’s electoral campaign, Dragnea requested Alexandria’s court to prohibit the Gazeta de Sud Est newspaper on grounds that the articles referring to his activity damage his image.
37. TIMIS
Ilie Sarbu, Social Democratic candidate. The press read that while Agriculture minister (2002-2003) he managed to buy from RAPPS, through legislative engineering, the protocol house he was living in. The house, of over 364 sq. meters, located downtown Bucharest was therefore transformed in the headquarters of the Romania Foundation and thus was eligible for sale. This happened the next day, when it was bought by Ilie Sirbu with 200,000 euro even though the house valued four times more. The state-owned Agroindustriala Grabtim SA, which had been evaluated at 19 billion Ron with a total production of 16 billion Ron, was privatized in 2002. The company finally reached, through intermediaries, (SC Hendel SRL – a Fangmeier satellite) Fangmeier SRL for just 1.2 billion Ron. Ilie Sarbu’s wife, Mariana received a 9600 euro fee from Fangmeier GmBH as counselor on Romanian affairs.
38. TULCEA
Trifon Belacurencu, Social Democratic Party candidate, associate at Valcons SA with Tudor Negrisan, economic director of Deltacons owned by Alexandru Stoie. According to local newspapers, Deltacons won several public tenders while Belacurencu was president of the County Council. His name is associated with Dan Verbina, Alexandru Bittner and Amorel Vatamanescu, controversial businessmen with interests in the Danube Delta. He is legally investigated by anti-graft prosecutors for abusively concluding a concession contract of several fishing spots in the Rusca area (some 257 acres). He then distributed them without public tenders to Piscicola Tulcea.
Gheorghe Bunduc, Greater Romania Party candidate (PRM) and current County Council President. He continued his protectionist stand in the concessions issue in favor of controversial businessmen in the Danube Delta, Traian Rece and Alexandru Bittner. Court officials urged him to undertake the necessary measures to regain the public domain in the Danube Delta (according to a 2000 decision of the Constanta Appeals Court) but he did not do anything in this regard, while he continued to approve concessions. According to the press, in August 2006 the county council approved without public tender a disinsection contract worth 5.5 billion Ron with a company that did not hold a license in this activity.
39. VASLUI
Vasile Mihalachi, Social Democratic candidate, was accused that, together with the County Council President, distributed the funds for city halls in a preferential way, advantaging those ran by PSD and PRM members. Iasi Appeals Court and Vaslui Tribunal ruled in 2007 that the two distributed the funds illegally and cancelled the January 31, 2007 decision on the distribution of state budgeted sums for city halls in the county.
Corneliu Bichinet, Greater Romania Party candidate and current County Council President. The newspapers read that Bichinet arbitrarily dissolved the Plant Protection Department and distributed its wealth. The decision was canceled by the Iasi Appeals Court. Newspapers read that he named his brother director of the County Library, an institution subordinated to the County Council. The press claims he offered his party colleagues or friends contracts without public tenders.
40. VALCEA
41. VRANCEA
Marian Oprisan, Social Democratic candidate, current County Council President. On June 5, 2006, he was indicted by anti-graft prosecutors (file no. 19/P of 2005 ), together with other five persons among which County Council vice president Mircea Diaconu. Oprisan was accused of committing a series of illegalities within a project aimed at improving road infrastructure while he served as County Council President and main credits coordinator. He repeatedly ignored his legal obligations and did not verify his personnel, approved papers that did not reflect reality and obtained several patrimony advantages for private companies, generating over 1 million euro damages.
Within the “Caprioara complex” (part of the same file) Oprisan bought, through intermediaries, on his mother’s name, 8 acres of land in Petresti. Afterwards, Oprisan in the name of the Council bought the “Caprioara complex” near this plot of land. According to prosecutors’ case, he had a personal interest in this case and thus breached law no. 393/2004, article 75. This acquisition produced enormous damages both to the Government’s reserve fund – 3 billion Romanian Rol – and to the County Council budget – almost 15 billion Rol. He was accused of using false documents, using a credit for other purposes than those stated and abuse in office.