Romania: mayor, 3 others detained on suspicion of pocketing 20 percent on contracts he signed
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Members of an Iraqi Shiite militant group called Soldiers of Imam Ali Brigades launch rockets against Islamic State extremist positions in Tikrit, 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, March 13, 2015. Iraqi forces entered Tikrit for the first time on Wednesday from the north and south. On Friday, they fought fierce battles to secure the northern Tikrit neighborhood of Qadisiyya and lobbed mortars and rockets into the city center, still in the hands of IS. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) (The Associated Press)
Authorities have detained an influential mayor and three others on suspicion that he took a cut of all contracts in his district of Bucharest.
Marian Vanghelie, known for his influence in the ruling Social Democracy Party until recently, was detained early Friday. A court will decide later whether to formally arrest him. Three others suspected of being part of the scheme were also detained.
Prosecutors are investigating whether Vanghelie took a 20 percent cut of all contracts he signed as mayor from 2007. His girlfriend, legislator Oana Niculescu-Mizil, was also questioned. She said she would resign from Parliament. Both denied wrongdoing.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The blunt-spoken Vanghelie is mayor of Bucharest's District 5, which includes both slums and the presidential palace.