European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigators in Timișoara say the mayor of Buduslău in Bihor county was placed under judicial control and charged with passive corruption after allegedly being caught receiving part of a bribe linked to an EU-funded rural road contract.
Prosecutors say the case involves a contract worth about €770,000, an alleged bribe demand equal to 5% of the contract value, and a 60-day restriction that bars the mayor from leaving Romania and from exercising his duties.
Developing story
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said the mayor, who also served as financial officer of the local authority, allegedly asked a company representative for a bribe beginning in October 2025 in connection with the execution of a contract for improving agricultural road infrastructure in Buduslău, a commune in Bihor county.
The alleged demand was equal to 5% of the contract value, excluding VAT, and prosecutors said the project was financed through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
According to the EPPO statement published from Luxembourg on 20 May 2026, the public contract was worth about €770,000, or RON 4 million, which means the alleged bribe amounted to about €38,500, or RON 200,000.
The office said the mayor allegedly promised that, in return, he would ensure the contract proceeded smoothly and speed up payments for the works.
Alleged payment trail
EPPO said the suspect is believed to have received the money in several instalments.
The final alleged instalment was around €28,800, or RON 150,000, received on 19 May 2026, when he was caught in the act, according to the statement.
The mayor has now been charged with passive corruption, EPPO said.
He has also been placed under judicial control for 60 days, during which he is barred from leaving the country and prohibited from carrying out his mayoral duties.
Case background
The investigation centres on the execution of a publicly funded infrastructure contract for agricultural roads, an area that often attracts scrutiny because it involves public money and local administrative decisions.
EPPO said the matter remains under investigation, meaning the allegations are still subject to legal proof before any final court decision.
The office’s statement did not name defence arguments or provide any response from the mayor at the time of publication.
It also did not indicate whether other people may face charges, but the investigation is described as ongoing.
Why it matters
The case is significant because it involves alleged corruption linked to EU funding, which falls directly within the EPPO’s remit.
It also highlights the vulnerability of local public procurement to bribery claims, particularly where a single official may influence both contract administration and payments.
In practical terms, if the allegations are upheld, the case could reinforce concerns about oversight in EU-supported rural development projects in Romania.
The charges also show continued European attention to corruption risks in local government spending and public works contracting.
Legal position
EPPO stated that the mayor is presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Romanian courts, although that presumption is implied in the broader legal framework even when not repeated in every case note.
For now, the court-imposed judicial control measures remain in place for 60 days.
The public prosecutor’s office has not announced a trial date, and the investigation appears to be continuing at the pre-trial stage.
No conviction has been reported, and the final outcome will depend on the evidence presented in court.
Public interest angle
Cases like this often draw attention because they combine local politics, EU money, and allegations of personal enrichment.
They also matter to residents who depend on public infrastructure works, since corruption allegations can delay projects, weaken trust, and affect how public funds are used.
EPPO’s latest statement adds to a pattern of corruption-related proceedings in Romania involving mayors and former mayors, reflecting the continuing role of anti-corruption prosecutors in the country.
This latest case is now likely to be watched closely by both local residents and EU institutions monitoring the protection of Union funds.
