Cornelia Elena Micicoi detained in EU funds fraud probe

Cornelia Elena Micicoi, the former prefect of Timiș County, has been detained for 24 hours by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). She is one of five individuals detained in an investigation concerning the alleged illegal acquisition of European funds.

The investigation stems from suspicions regarding professional training projects for vulnerable groups, which may have involved fraud and the use of forged documents. The estimated damage is reported to be several hundred thousand euros. The case is linked to a project previously managed through an association founded and led by Micicoi via GAL Freidorf.

This development follows 11 searches conducted by EPPO and organized crime police in Timiș in June 2026, which included Micicoi’s residence and the headquarters of a former company she managed. Following those searches, Micicoi resigned from her position as prefect to prevent the investigation from affecting the institution. She has maintained her innocence, stating that she has nothing to hide and that the investigation was in its early stages at the time of her resignation.