Romanian mayor and lodging operator detained in separate corruption investigations

Romanian prosecutors from the European Public Prosecutor Office (EPPO) caught Buduslău mayor Istvan Kcza in a flagrant bribery raid on 19 May 2026, seizing €28,800 taken as a 5 % kick‑back on a €770,000 EU‑funded road contract. The mayor was placed under 60‑day judicial control, barred from leaving the country and from exercising mayoral duties.

In a parallel operation, police in five north‑western counties (Maramureș, Cluj, Bihor, Bistrița‑Năsăud and Satu Mare) detained a 54‑year‑old administrator of a lodging facility on fraud charges. Investigators allege he issued false invoices that caused losses exceeding 1 million lei. Twenty‑seven search warrants were executed, seizing €2,600, documents and other evidence. The suspect was held for 24 hours pending further court measures.