Romanian Gendarmerie Chiefs Sacked Over Alleged Illegal Staff Hiring

Interior Ministry state secretary Ioan Dascalu said Monday the General Prosecutors’ Office started criminal investigations against Antonescu and Rugina.

Also sacked and under criminal investigation are inspectors Ioan Valentin Opritescu, Constantin Toleriu and colonel Marian Grigoroiu. They are investigated along Rugina, former human resources head in the interior ministry Adrian Patrascu and former ministry secretary general Cristian Baci.

Baci, Patrascu and Opritescu area accused of abuse of office and Toleriu is accused of accessory to abuse of office. Antonescu is accused of negligence in office and Rugina faces charges of intellectual forgery, while Grigoroiu is accused of absue of office and accessory to forgery.

Costel Gavrila, of the Dambovita County Gendarmerie Inspectorate, has been empowered to take over the institution’s helm, replacing Antonescu. Adrian Marian Faur, of the Covasna County Gendarmerie Inspectorate, has been appointed deputy chief and Marian Zaharia, a former head of human resources in the police force, has been appointed head of human resources at the Gendarmerie.

Interior Minister Traian Igas has ordered the extension of investigations in the case throughout all the ministry’s structures.