Mihai Voinea and plant director Mihai Rafiu placed under house arrest in SAFE fund corruption case

Romanian businessman Mihai Voinea and Mihai Rafiu, director of the Mechanical Plant Bucharest (Uzina Mecanică București), were placed under house arrest following a DNA investigation into alleged corruption. Prosecutors say the two discussed a substantial maintenance contract that would be awarded if the plant received financing from the SAFE fund, and intercepted recordings reveal them negotiating bribes for the contract.

During searches, investigators found half a million euros at the home of Alexandru Tiberiu Pîrvu, director of the Mechanical Plant Plopeni, another facility linked to the case. The DNA has filed arrest warrants for Voinea, Rafiu, Pîrvu and other plant officials, accusing them of abusing their positions to secure public funds through illicit payments.