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National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) prosecutors on Friday ordered senior official with the Transport Ministry Ninel Cercel to be detained over blackmail after he had taken action to remove from office the manager of the Brasov Regional Freight Centre (CZM) so that privately-owned transport companies may obtain a freight contract with chemicals works Azo Mures SA to the detriment of the CFR Marfa national freight railway corporation.
According to DNA, Cercel allegedly used as a pretext to dismiss the head of the CZM Brasov a fire that broke out on a freight train carrying ammonium nitrate on October 31, although the incident did not take place in the area under his responsibility. Cercel was summoned before the Brasov Tribunal, to be served a 30-day pre-trial detention order.
DNA claims that the purpose pursued by Cercel through his actions against the injured party to remove him from the position of manager of CZM Brasov was "private transport companies obtaining a material benefit to the detriment of CFR Marfa arising from a contract with Azo Mures SA." "This is because the injured person had constantly opposed other privately-run companies taking over business from CFR Marfa's contract to the detriment of the corporation," DNA said Friday in a press statement.
