Former Mayor of Bucharest District 4 Cristian Popescu Piedone was remanded in custody by National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) prosecutors on Friday night in the case investigating the way the the operating permits of the Colectiv club, which burned last week, killing 32, were issued.
“I trust justice solely,” said Piedone upon exiting the DNA headquarters.
He was taken out of the DNA headquarters handcuffed and taken to the Bucharest Police Arrest Center after being heard at the DNA HQs for several hours.
Former mayor of Bucharest Sector 4 Cristian Popescu-Piedone is being prosecuted for abuse of office and forgery, based on the legal provisions that ban a public servant from obtaining undue benefits for himself or others, the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) announced.
“In his capacity as public servant — specifically as mayor of Bucharest Sector 4, Cristian Popescu Piedone has defectively fulfilled his responsibilities, breaking the legal provisions on fire security, having issued approval No. 3909/14.01.2015 and business license No. 369/14.01.2015 for SC Colectiv Club SRL to operate at the premises at No. 7 Tabacarilor Street, Sector 4 Bucharest. In doing so he harmed the rights and legitimate interests of individuals and the Sector Mayorality, as representatives of SC Colectiv Club were allowed to perform public food activities and obtain RON 62,298 in illegal proceeds,” reads the DNA release.
The prosecutors assert that in order to authorize the functioning of the Colectiv Club business, Cristian Popescu Piedone issued the two administrative documents, the approval and the business license certifying untrue circumstances, namely that SC Colectiv Club met the legal requirements for getting licensed.
Also on Friday the two owners of the company that provided the fireworks for the “Goodbye to Gravity” show in the Colectiv club were remanded as well, Cristian Niță and his wife, Daniela Niță, along with one employee of their company.