Former Bucharest Mayor Sorin Oprescu Sentenced to Prison for Corruption Offences

The former mayor was charged with taking bribes, money laundering, abuse of office and forming and organized crime group. The decision is not final and can be appealed.

Oprescu was arrested in September 2015, whiles still in office, after he was caught receiving bribes during a sting operation.

According to the indictment, Oprescu adhered to and later took over an organized crime group consisting of the chiefs of several institutions in the country’s capital, meant to funnel money from the city’s budget.

Prosecutors also accused Sorin Oprescu of appointing several obedient individuals as heads of certain City Hall agencies, in order to further the interests of the crime group.

Sorin Oprescu was elected for two terms as mayor of Bucharest, in 2008 and 2012. His second term was cut short, as he was deposed shortly following the September 2015 arrest.