Leader of the Constanta County Council, Nicusor Constantinescu, was sentenced on Wednesday to three years and a half in prison for abuse of office in a file regarding the underfinancing of the Regional Military Center. Constanta Court’s ruling can be challenged to a different court.
Constantinescu is also banned to exert the right of having a public position, the right to be elected within public authorities or any other public offices and the right to have a public position for 5 years after he serves the jail sentence.
Nicusor Constantinescu was also compelled to pay RON 72,643 to the civil part in this case, namely to the Ministry of National Defense. He also has to pay RON 8,000 representing court charges to the Romanian state.
Prosecutors claim that during 2009-November 2013, Nicusor Constantinescu poorly complied or didn’t comply at all with his duties as leader of Constanta County Council, namely he did not provide the Regional Military Center in Constanta with the needed financing by refusing to undergo revamping works at its HQs and by calling off some utilities and surveillance contracts that would ensure the normal activity of the center.
Investigators said that starting 2009, Constanta County Council leader hadn’t provided consumables and repair pieces for the IT systems of the center, while the phone services had been also cut off, at the county council’s request.
Prosecutors also accused Constantinescu of trying several times to evict the institution from its headquarters, which caused damages for the Defense Ministry.