The High Court of Cassation and Justice - The Panel of 5 judges settled yesterday a long and highly publicized process, by definitively acquitting the deputy Cosmin Sandru and the General Director of Timisoara Public Transport Company, Nicolae Bitea, who were accused in 2021 by the National Anticorruption Directorate of alleged acts of corruption in connection with negotiations with a member of the Romanian Parliament, from another political party. In this regard, POPESCU & ASOCIATII achieved a significant victory for its clients, reinforcing the principle of freedom in political activity.   

The decision is of major importance, clarifying the framework that delimits political negotiations from the field of criminal liability. By confirming the acquittal decision pronounced in May 2024 by the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the Panel of 5 judges has reinforced the practice according to which political decisions and implicitly political negotiations are subject to political accountability rather than criminal liability.

“The pronounced solution is very important, as it confirms the standard of analysis that must be applied in the vast field of political activity, according to which political negotiations cannot be subject to criminal liability. We are glad that, following the acquittal decision pronounced by a Panel of  3 judges from the Romanian High Court of Cassation and Justice in the first instance, the defenses presented by our team of lawyers were also validated at the highest possible judicial level in Romania, by the Panel of 5 judges in criminal matters. This achieved success stands proof of the professionalism and commitment of the entire team of POPESCU & ASOCIATII", said Adrian CHIRVASE, Partner.

The team of POPESCU & ASOCIATII involved in this litigation was coordinated by Adrian CHIRVASE, Partner and Mirel RADESCU, Senior Counsel.

POPESCU & ASOCIATII is the first-line law firm that provides exceptional integrated services to premium clients, both in Romania and abroad, in all relevant practice areas and especially in the industries of interest to active economic players.

POPESCU & ASOCIATII and its lawyers are included within the elite of business law from Romania in areas such as Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions, Litigation, Public-Private Partnerships and Public Procurement, Restructuring and Insolvency, Tax and Criminal Business Law, based on the extraordinary capabilities in the legal sector and clients’ appreciations, recognitions awarded by the latest editions of all the famous international legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, IFLR 1000, Benchmark Litigation and Legal 500 EMEA.

POPESCU & ASOCIATII also received the awards for the Best Litigation Law Firm in Romania, the Best Law Firm in Banking Law in Romania, the Best Law Firm in Real Estate Law in Romania and was recognized among the Best Criminal Business Law Firms in Romania, based on the extraordinary experience and recognition coming from the local legal environment, at the Romanian Law Awards Gala.