www.gandul.ro/actualitate/frauda-remorchere-dunare

Four employees of the Lower Danube River Administration and a company face trial for allegedly mismanaging a €7 million EU-funded tugboat purchase. The delivered vessels reportedly do not meet technical requirements, limiting their operational safety during low water levels. Prosecutors claim the procurement process favored a single company, restricting competition. The defendants are accused of falsely certifying the compliance of the tugboats, which have a deeper draft than specified in the contract. The European Public Prosecutor's Office estimates a €7 million loss to the EU budget, with potential prison sentences of 3 to 10 years for the accused, who maintain their presumption of innocence until proven guilty.