Romania: Separate prison sentences issued in drug trafficking and attempted murder cases

In two distinct legal developments in Romania, courts have issued final prison sentences for high-risk crimes.

In Iași, Marcelone Bălan has been sentenced to 16 years and 10 months in prison for high-risk drug trafficking and unauthorized operations with psychoactive substances. The Court of Appeal modified the previous sentence by admitting an appeal from DIICOT prosecutors, which resulted in the revocation of a previously suspended sentence of 2 years and 2 months. This final term combines the new sentence with the prior conviction.

A 21-year-old man from Vulcan has been sentenced to six years in prison for the attempted murder of a 16-year-old adolescent. The incident occurred in May 2024 near the IMAX club in Vulcan, where the victim was stabbed in the chest following a pre-existing conflict. The Alba Iulia Court of Appeal rejected appeals from both the defendant and the civil party, upholding the original decision from the Hunedoara Tribunal.