Military Personnel from Mihail Kogalniceanu International Military Base Arrested for Fuel Theft

The criminal activity case investigated at the International Military Base, Mihail Kogalniceanu, continues.

The investigation started in November last year after a group of individuals, both soldiers and civilians, stole significant amounts of fuel from the generators powering several military unit locations at the Romanian-American military facility in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Constanta County, causing the American federal government damages of almost $2 million. The DIICOT body enhanced the investigation operations with the scope to dismantle the group and prosecute them.

Currently, seven soldiers from the Kogalniceanu Base, together with one civilian, are being detained by prosecutors in pre-trial detention for 30 days, awaiting the final decision of the judges. The call to action was decided by the Constanta Tribunal, as they are being charged for various types of military fuel theft of seven tones, respectively kerosene and diesel.

The judge’s order is not final, and an appeal may be filed within 48 hours after the decision.

“Admits the proposal made by the Military Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest Military Tribunal in the criminal case no. 444/P/2022. On the basis of (…) orders the preventive arrest of the defendants (…) for a period of 30 days. (…) Rejects the requests made by the defendants (…) to take the measure of judicial control, as well as the requests for the measure of house arrest or judicial control made by the defendants (…). It orders the immediate issuance of warrants for pre-trial detention. The legal costs advanced by the State remain the responsibility of the State. With the right to appeal within 48 hours from the pronouncement for the defendant and from the communication for the prosecutor”.

Judges from Constanta Tribunal