Bucharest mayor in bribe scandal

Romanian prosecutors began an investigation into Sorin Oprescu after he was reportedly filmed receiving a 25,000-euro ($28,000) bribe.

Prosecutors say Oprescu, 63, was part of a group of Bucharest civil servants who demanded a share in the profits of companies that won public works contracts with the city.

"Companies kept between 30 and 33 percent of the gross profit, and the rest was given as bribes to employees of the Bucharest mayor, with 10 percent of the contracts' value requested by the accused Sorin Oprescu," prosecutors said in a statement.

The 25,000 euros is said to be part of a total 60,000 euros Oprescu had allegedly demanded from unnamed people who have become informants for the prosecutors.

The mayor's lawyer denied any wrongdoing on behalf of his client. Oprescu has been mayor of Bucharest since 2008. He ran for president in 2009 and was formerly a senator of the ruling Social Democrat Party.

Oprescu was detained for 24 hours late on Saturday, and prosecutors have asked a court to extend the arrest warrant for 30 days.

The case mirrors a number of others in recent years in Romania, one of the EU's most corrupt states. Recent cases have shown mayors, city councilors, lawmakers and ministers giving preference to certain companies for contracts and then demanding a cut.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta was indicted in July on wide-ranging corruption charges.

A crackdown on high-level corruption by Romanian prosecutors has earned praise from Brussels and foreign investors.

jr/cmk (Reuters, AP, AFP)