Romania’s Archbishop of Tomis to stand trial in corruption case
<p>The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) <a href="https://www.pna.ro/comunicat.xhtml?id=12572" rel="noopener" target="_blank">announced</a> on May 8 that it sent <strong>Teodosie Petrescu</strong>, the Archbishop of Tomis, to trial for influence buying. In the same case, an advisor within the Archdiocese of Tomis is investigated for complicity in buying influence.</p>

<p>Archbishop Teodosie is one of the most influential representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Church.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The case was sent to the Court of Appeal Constanța for trial.</p>

<p>DNA prosecutors allege that in July 2023, the Archbishop of Tomis promised RON 160,000 to a local businessman (a witness in the case), which represented 20% of the RON 800,000 the businessman promised to obtain for the Archdiocese of Tomis "by making use of the influence he claimed to have had on the officials with decision-making rights within the State Secretariat for Religions."</p>

<p>The amount of RON 800,000 was supposed to be used to finance some construction works or rehabilitation of the worship units under the Tomis Archdiocese.</p>

<p>The prosecutors say the advisor told the businessman that he would get the promised RON 160,000 through a fictitious consultancy contract between the Archdiocese of Tomis and the witness's company.</p>

<p>Local publication <a href="https://recorder.ro/investigatie-recorder-coruptie-in-numele-domnului/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Recorder</a> published last November a video investigation in which a former priest, who is also a businessman, filmed with a hidden camera the negotiations with several church parties, including Archbishop Teodosie, regarding the granting of "commissions" of 20% from sums given from the state budget for churches.</p>

<p><i>irina.marica@romania-insider.com</i></p>

<p><i>(Photo source: Inquam Photos/George Calin)</i></p>