Manager of the Polyvalent Hall in Bucharest detained for bribery

Octavian Bitu, the manager of the Polyvalent Hall in Bucharest (photo) has been taken on remand on Tuesday night by the anti-corruption prosecutors, being charged with asking EUR 10,000 and with claiming EUR 180,000 building in exchange for closing a litigation case and for extending a private company’s renting contract.

Bitu, who has been running the Polyvalent Hall since April 2013, is vice-president of PSD District 4 branch, which is led by the Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu. The minister is also the godfather of one of Bitu’s children.

According to the investigators, during April-August 2015, Octavian Bitu, has asked EUR 10,000 from a businessman, who  eventually reported on him. Bitu would have also asked the businessman to give him 50 pc of one of his buildings in order to turn it in a commercial location.

Prosecutors say that Bitu pledged that the company owned by that businessman and where an acquaintance of Bitu should be associate to win a public sale.

In retort, Health minister Banicioiu declared himself “shocked” of Bitu’s arrest, arguing they had an honest relationship, and even godfathered a child of his. “If he is guilty, he shall pay!”, Banicioiu said.