Romanian State Employees Misuse Vacation Funds in €1 Million Fraud

An investigation in Cluj revealed that 649 civil servants in Romania exploited a vacation allowance scheme, submitting 802 fabricated invoices and receipts for nonexistent hotel stays. The fraud cost the state over one million lei. Despite the scale, the criminal case was closed on grounds of reduced gravity and prescription, leaving the perpetrators without clear penal consequences. The episode highlights systemic weaknesses in public‑sector oversight and has sparked public criticism over the perceived leniency of the justice system.

The misuse involved fictitious travel vouchers, with funds redirected to real beneficiaries while the alleged “vacations” never took place. Authorities noted that among the offenders were military personnel, prison staff and other state employees, underscoring the breadth of the misconduct.