Ilfov Prefect Intercepted in Permit Factory Case: Simona Neculae Reportedly Warned Arrested Official
Ilfov Prefect Simona Neculae was reportedly intercepted by DNA prosecutors and alerted the head of the Driving Permits Service, who is already in custody. The bribe for passing the practical driving test was approximately 700 euros.
Ilfov Prefect Intercepted in the Ilfov "Permit Factory" Case
Judicial sources disclosed exclusively to Gândul that Ilfov Prefect Simona Neculae was reportedly intercepted by prosecutors from the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) during an investigation that has already led to the preventive arrest of the head of the Ilfov Driving Permits and Vehicle Registration Service, Chief Commissioner Mihai Niță, and his direct subordinate, Cosmin Dobre, coordinator of the Driving Permits and Examinations Division.
A third officer, Sub-Inspector Grigore Dan-Mircea from the same service, was placed under judicial control for 60 days.
Warning Given to Investigated Parties Without Knowledge of Being Intercepted
According to Gândul sources, DNA prosecutors informed the leadership of the Driving Permits and Vehicle Registration Directorate (DRPCIV) and Prefect Simona Neculae that the heads of the service were under scrutiny in a corruption investigation. Neculae reportedly immediately transmitted this information to Mihai Niță — unaware that she herself was being intercepted by the investigators.
Transcripts resulting from the interceptions would show that the prefect did not limit herself to the warning: she reportedly also sent Niță people whom the officer would later help obtain driving permits through fraudulent means.
A Network Organised on Three Levels
DNA describes the criminal group as having "an organised structure on three tiers, with clearly determined roles". The first level consisted of examiners, divided into intermediaries and facilitators, who facilitated passing the practical test through "apparently legal or difficult to prove" methods: selection of routes without difficulty, operating the pedals during the examination without recording the intervention, or overlooking candidates' mistakes.
The second level consisted of driving instructors, tasked with identifying people interested in preferential scheduling and collecting money from other instructors or from pupils at driving schools. The money collected in this way was subsequently remitted to examiners or to Mihai Niță in his capacity as head of the service, DNA specifies.
The sum charged for passing the practical test amounted to approximately 700 euros per candidate.
Cameras and Microphones Installed Overnight
The investigation was conducted by DNA prosecutors with the support of officers from the General Anti-Corruption Directorate (DGA), who reportedly installed surveillance cameras and microphones during the night at the targeted locations. In addition, undercover officers allegedly delivered sums of money as bribes to police officers under investigation, to document the facts.
In addition to the three police officers detained or placed under judicial control, the criminal group reportedly also included several police examiners and driving instructors, according to the same judicial sources cited by Gândul.
Source: Gândul