Viorel Pașca Detained as Romanian Illegal Care Home Scandal Unfolds: 401 Deaths, Cash Hoards, and Street Protests
DIICOT prosecutors have detained Viorel Pașca, his wife, three sons, and a collaborator for allegedly running an illegal network of care homes in Bihor county. Over 400 vulnerable residents were evacuated, and 401 deaths are linked to the centre, sparking a 300-strong support protest in Oradea.
The raid and arrests
On 30 June 2026, DIICOT prosecutors carried out searches across Bihor county, dismantling a network of unlicensed care homes run by Viorel Pașca through his association "Dumbrava - Dumnezeu poartă de grijă." On 1 July, six people, Pașca, his wife, three sons, and a female administrator of the Bihor branches, were detained for 24 hours. Prosecutors have requested a 30-day preventive arrest; a court hearing is set for 2 July at 10:00. Five additional suspects were placed under judicial control.
- DIICOT raids uncover illegal care homes in Bihor
- Viorel Pașca and five others detained for 24 hours
- Support protest gathers 300 people in Oradea
- Court hearing on 30-day preventive arrest begins
What was found
Raids uncovered over 400 residents, people with physical and mental disabilities, brought by state institutions, hospitals, or police, in 17 houses. The association had no social services licence, confirmed the Ministry of Labour. Seized evidence included 217 bank cards, 19 social cards, seven fuel vouchers, identity documents for 409 residents, and cash in multiple currencies: 246,750 lei, $15,000, €7,880, C$4,920, CHF 4,700, £1,150, and over 11,000 lei from a vehicle. The total estimated prejudice exceeds 13 million lei (€2.5 million).
The deaths and medical neglect
A field beside a Greek Catholic cemetery held 401 bodies of people who died in the centres over the years. Medical staff at Bihor County Emergency Hospital said patients were frequently abandoned at train stations or sent to the A&E when the centres wanted to "get rid" of them. After the evacuations, 35 patients were brought to the ER, and nine were hospitalised for severe conditions. Dr. Hadrian Borcea, head of the emergency unit, described cases of extreme biological degradation that had been ignored.
When I have time, I talk! They don’t let me!
The defence and support
Viorel Pașca's lawyer, Răzvan Doseanu, called the accusations baseless, saying the residents were not neglected and everything humanly possible was done. He argued authorities themselves brought people to Pașca because state centres were full or nonexistent. About 300 supporters gathered in Oradea's Union Square on the evening of 1 July, chanting "God takes care! Viorel, innocent!" and "DIICOT, shame!" Organiser Dan Craznic said the protest was spontaneous via social media, criticising the scale of the police operation.
If the state had done its job, there would be no problem with Mr Pașca and public authorities would not have come to a private individual to bring people in terminal stages who could die on the streets.
We want to say stop to the abuses of the state's force institutions, which have taken measures against Mr Viorel Pașca. This man has done a lot of good.
Official reactions
Minister of Labour Dragoș Pîslaru acknowledged state institutions tolerated and were complicit in the network: "I believe an honest and thorough analysis of how we got here is needed." He stressed the state's duty to act with empathy. The DIICOT statement detailed that the group exploited victims for donations, pensions, disability benefits, and funeral grants, keeping them in dependence without proper care.
It is my duty to reiterate that the state has an obligation to act with empathy in helping those in vulnerability. That is why I believe we need an honest and in-depth analysis of how we reached this point.
