Brasov local leader detained for corruption
Leader of Brasov County Council, Aristotel Cancescu has been detained for 24 hours by the anti-corruption prosecutors on Monday evening. The Liberal local baron is charged with corruption, more precisely with favoring certain companies’ bids for some of the County Council’s workings. According to judicial sources for Agerpres, the damage exceeds EUR 10 million.
Cancescu has been questioned on the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) for more than five hours on Monday, following 15 searches conducted at Brasov County Council’ s HQs but also at his place.
Before entering the hearings, the Liberal Cancescu told reporters that this is a politically ordered file. “I find this investigation very strange, coming in the middle of the electoral campaign. It relates to a Court of Accounts’ report which is two years older”, Cancescu said without making any further comments.
According to judicial sources quoted by Mediafax, the investigation is targeting the way Brasov County Council have been rendering contracts to some companies, one of them belonging to MP Ion Dinita (Conservative Party), who is also leading the party local branch. The anti-corruption prosecutors also questioned Dinita. The quoted sources said Cancescu had allegedly controlled the entire operation of giving public money contracts to the local leaders’ acquaintances, by receiving money in return. The investigation also pointed to Brasov County Council’s deputy leader, Mihai Pascu, PC member.
Aristotel Cancescu is one of the wealthiest local leaders in the country, possessing houses, lands and substantial banking accounts: an EUR 400,000 account and the other one valuing USD $ 4,5 M. Cancescu is also the owner of Mix media trust.
His acolyte, PC deputy Ion Dinita also has an impressive wealth statement: nine apartments, three houses, one of them in Cambridge, 35 lands, one of them bought on a 125 years franchise in the UK.