DNA investigation at OPC Covasna: deputy chief commissioner Mircea Diacon and two subordinates, suspended from their positions

The County Commissariat for Consumer Protection (CJPC) Covasna was targeted by an investigation by DNA prosecutors, who on February 8 raided the institution’s headquarters, in a file in which investigations are being carried out for acts of corruption and the obtaining of undue benefits . Later, on March 14, the ANPC management decided to suspend the deputy chief commissioner Mircea Diacon and two other subordinates, according to Newsbv.ro. The same source recalls that for the same suspicions, in the past, former regional chief commissioner Sorin Susanu had suspended Mircea Diacon’s right to control the field.

I requested an official point of view from the ANPC, respectively from the Brașov Regional Commissionerate, to which CJPC Covasna belongs, in order to find out the reason for the suspension of the former deputy chief commissioner and the two subordinates, respectively if they are still currently employees of the institution. We also wanted to find out who took over the leadership and how many commissioners with control duties are currently in office, but the representatives of the Regional Commissionerate told us that the requested information is not public because it would violate the right to the protection of personal data and would prejudice the provision of a fair trial to the parties involved in the trial.

Németh Erika – temporarily appointed coordinator of CJPC Covasna

Instead, ANPC sent two pieces of information to Covasna Prefecture: one almost two weeks ago, related to the decision to suspend the former deputy chief commissioner and the two employees, and the second, on March 27, regarding upon the appointment of another person as head of the CJPC Covasna. The prefect of the county, Ráduly István, told us that, according to an order of the president of the ANPC, Németh Erika, employed as a legal advisor, was temporarily appointed to lead the CJPC Covasna.

“A few days ago we received an address from the National Authority for Consumer Protection informing us that Mr. Deputy Chief Commissioner of the CJPC Covasna was suspended from his position, during the DNA investigation. Moreover, during today’s day we received the order of the president of ANPC by which we were informed about the appointment as temporary coordinator of CJPC Covasna of Mrs. Németh Erika, the institution’s legal advisor”, said the prefect of Covasna county, Ráduly István.

Definitively convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol

We remind you that Mircea Diacon was also targeted by a criminal investigation in the past, after on August 25, 2018, after participating in the Days of the Reci commune, he got behind the wheel and caused an accident. Breathalyzer testing indicated that he had 1.2 mg/l of pure alcohol in his breath.

After several postponements, the Sfântu Gheorghe Court sentenced him, on June 12, 2022, to a fine of 200 days – a fine of 25 lei/day fine, “following that the defendant must execute a 5,000 lei criminal fine, for committing the crime of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other substances” or “replacing the number of fine days with a corresponding number of days in prison”, in case of refusal to pay.

Following the appeal filed by the former deputy chief commissioner, on January 12, 2023, the Brașov Court of Appeals definitively sentenced Mircea Diacon, upholding the sentence handed down by the Sfântu Gheorghe Court, also obliging him to pay 400 lei with title of legal expenses in the appeal.

The ANPC management was aware of the situation as early as January 2023

A week after the sentence, in an interview given to the publication Bugetul.ro, the president of ANPC, Horia Constantinescu, declared that he was not informed about this case, but “the law says that he cannot keep him in office”.

“The law says that I cannot keep him in office (…) I was not informed of this situation until this moment. I think that these things were known at the level of the Regional Commissariat, it was necessary to proceed accordingly, I will check and thank you for the information! I cannot comment in any way, as long as a court has ruled, it is superfluous for anyone else to comment in any way”, declared Horia Constantinescu last January.

It should be noted that Mircea Diacon kept his position until this month, although he had a final conviction and the ANPC management was aware of this case.

(Ioana Ardeleanu)

Photo: Facebook / Mircea Diacon