Three Detained In NW Romania Fraudulent Driving License Inquiry

Sources within the Cluj branch of the National Anticorruption Department told MEDIAFAX that the people detained for 24 hours are police agent Daniela Poputa, investigated for soliciting bribe, Cornel Ilea, owner of the "Ilea" driving school, as well as an employee of the same school, Iacob Abrudan. Ilea and Abrudan are suspected of influence peddling.

 

The three will appear before the court Wednesday, with a proposition of preventive arrest.

 

A total number of 16 people, including the chief of he Auto Examination Office within  the Cluj Driving License Service, chief commissioner Ovidiu Vaij, three agents, auto instructors and suspected intermediaries were questioned throughout Tuesday night.

 

Romanian anticorruption officers and prosecutors carried out raids Tuesday morning on 13 locations in the northwestern city of Cluj Napoca, including the Department for Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration, following which three people, including an employee of the department, were taken to the local anticorruption department for hearings, under suspicion of fraudulent issue of driving licenses.

 

Romanian anticorruption officers and prosecutors carried out raids Tuesday morning on 13 locations in the northwestern city of Cluj Napoca, including the Department for Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration, following which three people, including an employee of the department, were taken to the local anticorruption department for hearings, under suspicion of fraudulent issue of driving licenses.

 

According to sources among investigators, the raids targeted two officers and two agents within the department, as well as several intermediaries.

 

Searches are also conducted at the residences of some of the department’s employees, on suspicion of illegal release of driving licenses, as well as at the headquarters of some of the city’s driving schools, the same sources said.

 

Cluj County prefect Florin Stamatian said he received no information regarding potential problems within the department, adding that a recent checkup conducted by the county prefecture found no “serious issues”.

 

Last week, similar raids took place in Covasna County, and 19 people, including five agents from the Sfantu Gheorghe Department for Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration, an employee of the mayoralty, three automobile inspectors, a non-commissioned officer with the Covasna Inspectorate for Emergencies, as well as several intermediaries, are probed in connection with alleged fraudulent release of driving licenses and car registrations.

 

The aforementioned are charged with bribery, influence peddling, complicity to bribery and organized crime, and forgery.