Bucharest mayor placed under preventive arrest, King Michael withdraws his Order of the Crown

Bucharest’s mayor Sorin Oprescu(right), who is accused of taking bribes, will spend the next 30 days in jail, as the Bucharest Court decided to place him under preventive arrest. The court’s decision is not final, however, and can be further appealed, according to local Agerpres. In this context, Romania’s King Michael (left) has decided on Monday, September 7, to withdraw Oprescu’s Order of the Crown membership, in the rank of Officer. “This decision was taken in accordance with the Crown of Romania Dynastic Order of December 30, 2011,” reads a statement of His Royal Highness’ press bureau. Sorin Oprescu was informed by this decision through a letter. Oprescu, who is the most powerful mayor in Romania, was taken into custody on Saturday night for bribery. According to the National Anticorruption Directorate DNA, he was part of a very well organized group within the public administration that asked companies to pay bribes in order to get public contracts from various authorities subordinated to Bucharest’s City Hall. Sorin Oprescu was first elected the mayor of Bucharest in 2008. He was then reelected in 2012. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com (Photo source: Sorin Oprescu's Facebook page)