Prosecutors conducted 25 searches on Friday in a case related to the social security benefits illegally granted by the District 5 City Hall, led by Marian Vanghelie (photo), recently ousted from the Social Democrat Party. Prosecutors claim charges of abuse of office and influence peddling. Three persons have been detained.
Judicial sources told Mediafax that thousands Bucharesters would have received illegal social security benefits, with the help of some persons who claimed to have connections at the city hall. In exchange for their intervention, the suspects asked people to pay them RON 100-200 each month.
Mayor Marian Vanghelie said the searches are not related to him. According to the District 5 mayor, there are peremptory writs on the name of some directors within the Social Direction which, he says, is subordinated to the Local Council and not to his city hall.
“I believe the investigators’ suspicions came after I got my claws into Mr. Ponta and Mr. Oprea. If some prosecutor calls me for hearings, I can also tell him that Mr. Oprea is involved in many justice interferences, with Mr. Ponta included,” Vanghelie said.