Botosani mayor Catalin-Mugurel Flutur, who is a member of the National Liberal Party (PNL), is being prosecuted by the Suceava office of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA).

He was charged with abuse of office for illegally reducing the rent a shopping center paid between 2006 and 2011 for using a 4,600 sqm plot owned by the local council. The mayor’s decision allegedly damaged the local budget by RON 2 million (EUR 439,000), according to the DNA prosecutors.

Four city hall employees were also charged with complicity to abuse of office in this case.

Flutur was mayor of Botosani between 2004 and 2012. He was elected again in June 2016.

The shopping center in question is the Uvertura Mall, the only mall in Botosani, owned by local investor Danut Prisecariu.

editor@romania-insider.com