The mayor of Pitesti, Tudor Pendiuc, was held by the prosecutors of the Romanian National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) after he was questioned yesterday in a corruption case.

He is investigated for having granted public acquisition contracts which damaged the state by about EUR 1 million, according to Mediafax.

Pendiuc is accused of abuse of office and bribery. According to judicial sources, the bribe was a EUR 130,000 apartment received by his daughter Ema Pendiuc, who was also held by prosecutors as an accomplice.

Romanian businessman Valentin Visoiu, who owns construction group Conarg, was also held by prosecutors for allegedly bribing the mayor of Pitesti.

The prosecutors investigate several contracts granted by the Pitesti authorities for public transport.

The prosecutors have asked for 30-day arrest warrants on the three.

editor@romania-insider.com