Five charged over suspected procurement cartel targeting Romanian poverty programmes
European prosecutors allege fraud in 22 tenders. Estimated losses to EU funds amount to €1.8 million.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on 16 October that five people had been indicted at the Bucharest Tribunal over a suspected criminal group manipulating municipal procurement. Two alleged leaders reportedly approached rural municipalities in Dolj between 2017 and 2022 to seek EU funding, then prepared funding applications and tender documentation.
Prosecutors say three members received tender information and used companies and false documents to secure contracts. The case concerns 22 procurement procedures within seven programmes providing food, workshops and training for vulnerable communities. Estimated losses total €1.8 million; assets worth that amount had previously been seized from suspects.
