A doctor in the Romanian mountain of Sinaia was detained on Tuesday after being caught taking a record number of bribes in a single day: 19.

During that day, the doctor received a total of RON 8,500 (EUR 1,900) from people retired early because of illnesses. They went to the doctor to get the certificate necessary to renew the retirement file. However, the doctor only gave them the certificate when they paid him.

Investigators say that the doctor was calculating how big the bribe should be based on the patient's pension. One of the pensioners turned informant and with the help of the Police, organized the bust that led to the doctor's arrest.

Officers from the General Anticorruption Department detained the doctor on Tuesday and then arrested him for 24 hours. Later on, the Prahova Court decided to place him under house arrest. The measure can be challenged at Ploiesti Court of Appeal.

Speed record: A Romanian doctor was receiving 10 bribes per minute

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com