File on the disappearance of Bechtel contract, closed

Unexpected end in the case of the disappearance of one of the most important contracts signed by the Romanian state for a motorway construction. After 13 years of investigation, the prosecutors upon the District 5 Court have decided to close the file on the disappearance of the Bechtel contract, digi24.ro informs.

A complaint was filed three years ago by Dan Sova, former Minister of Great Projects. He initially made a complaint to the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) for abuse of office, negligence and destruction for the disappearance of the original contract.

DNA declined the complaint on grounds that it has no legal competence to check the reported deeds.

The file reached the Prosecutor’s Office upon District 5 Court, which decided the file to be closed.

The reason for its closing is that, whether a guilty person is found or not, the facts are already prescribed.

In November 2003, by Government Emergency Ordinance, CNADNR was empowered to begin negotiations with the US company Bechtel for the construction of the Transylvania Motorway. The contract was entrusted directly without a tender procedure. The estimated price was EUR 5.4 million per kilometre.

On May 30, 2013, the Romanian state has terminated the agreement, paying penalties of EUR 37.2 million and taking over debts of EUR 50 million. In nearly 10 years, Bechtel has built 52 kilometres of highway which has collected EUR 1.1 billion.