Sorina Pintea, who served as Romania’s Minister of Health between 2018 and 2019 under Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă’s administration, has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison after being found guilty of bribery. The Cluj Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal on Friday, finalizing the sentence and paving the way for her immediate incarceration.
According to reports from Digi24.ro and IPN, law enforcement authorities identified and detained Pintea following the court’s decision. She is expected to serve her sentence at Gherla Penitentiary, one of Romania’s oldest and most well-known detention facilities.
The case against Pintea dates back to April 2020, when the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) indicted her on charges of accepting bribes while she was serving as manager of the County Emergency Hospital in Baia Mare. Prosecutors alleged that Pintea received a total of €10,000 and RON 120,000 (approximately €24,000) as a commission for facilitating a public procurement contract.
The court found that the payments represented a percentage of a contract awarded under Pintea’s supervision, marking a serious breach of public trust and integrity in office. Throughout the legal proceedings, Pintea maintained her innocence, but the court ultimately ruled that the evidence presented by prosecutors was sufficient to uphold her conviction.
This high-profile case has reignited public debate in Romania over corruption in the healthcare sector, a long-standing issue in the country. Critics argue that systemic graft continues to undermine public services and erode citizens’ faith in government institutions.
Pintea’s sentencing adds to a growing list of Romanian officials prosecuted and convicted by the DNA, which has been at the forefront of the country’s anti-corruption efforts for more than a decade. While Romania has made progress in judicial reforms, the European Union continues to monitor its performance in tackling high-level corruption.
As the former health minister begins her prison term, observers note that the case may serve as both a symbolic and practical reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in public office.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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