Constanța prosecutors Gigi Valentin Ștefan and Teodor Niță sent to trial for corruption

Two Constanța prosecutors sent to trial

Prosecutors Gigi Valentin Ștefan and Teodor Niță, both from the Constanța Court of Appeal prosecutor's office, have been sent to trial on corruption and related charges. The Public Ministry announced the move in a communiqué on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, and the case will be heard by the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ÎCCJ). Ștefan, described as general prosecutor of the Constanța office from 2016 to 2024, faces a charge of influence peddling in a continuous form. Reports describe Niță's counts differently: Digi24 lists abuse of office, blackmail, usurpation of office and abusive investigation, while Mediafax reports an accusation of incitement to abuse of office. Both prosecutors are suspended and have been held in pretrial detention since 15 May 2026.

The Public Ministry's communiqué states the case position in these words:

“The case prosecutor has completed the investigation and ordered the trial of four defendants for corruption and other offences.”

Alleged payments in the prosecutor's office

Prosecutors allege that Ștefan received about 110,000 euros, goods and other benefits from Learciu between December 2025 and April 2026. The indictment dates the receipts to 12 December 2025 and to 20, 23 and 27 April 2026, and says the money changed hands while Ștefan sat in office no. 14 of the Constanța prosecutor's office. In return, he allegedly promised to use his influence over public officials to speed up procedures, secure favourable rulings, including in criminal cases, and facilitate professional transfers. According to the file, Learciu wanted help recovering a driving licence, a transfer to the Constanța Court of Accounts, a post at SAPE, the energy participations administration company, and preferential handling from the energy ministry and Distribuție Energie Electrică România. Investigators say Learciu placed a sum of money directly into a small cupboard in the prosecutor's office at about 09:44 on 27 April 2026.

A separate episode, dated 8 April 2026, involves about 60,000 euros that prosecutors say Ștefan received in his office from one person. In exchange, he allegedly promised to steer a criminal case handled by a prosecutor in a subordinate office toward a favourable outcome. The file also lists gifts: honey, mackerel, plum brandy and lamb for drob, allegedly offered to help settle criminal cases involving acquaintances. According to Ziare.com, searches in the investigation uncovered 130,000 euros in the prosecutor's office and in his car.

Learciu, Dec 2025 to Apr 2026 (approx.)110,000

One person, 8 April 2026 (approx.)60,000

Learciu, Dec 2025 to Apr 2026 (approx.)

110000 euro

One person, 8 April 2026 (approx.)

60000 euro

Data from the article text

Wiretapped talk of energy projects and local councils

Recorded conversations show Learciu, a former PSD county councillor and former executive director of AFIR Constanța, seeking the prosecutor's help with local officials. In a conversation dated 4 March 2026, he asked the prosecutor to arrange a meeting with Florin Mitroi, president of the Constanța County Council, and spoke of reaching the leadership of the Galați County Council. He went on to describe funding available to town halls in terms that ring alarm bells for investigators:

“Each one can access up to half a million euros.”

On 16 March he described a Galați meeting, arranged through local officials, as flawless. The project he presented was a solar park with battery storage worth about 20 million euros. Costel Fotea, president of the Galați County Council, told investigators he received Learciu and contacted the directors of Electrica Galați and a county history museum to arrange audiences, but said he did not know what was discussed afterwards. George Niculescu, president of ANRE, said he advised Learciu to request technical information officially.

Charges against the other defendants

Learciu and Mihale Cartali, a businessman, were also sent to trial in the same case, and both are accused of buying influence. Cartali is heard in the recordings describing a dispute with the prefecture over more than 300 building permits, in which other applicants had lost their cases. The indictment says Ștefan claimed influence over officials at the Constanța cadastre and real estate office and over judges at the Court of Appeal, offering to intervene in matters of building authorisation and property status. Prosecutors also allege that on 15 January 2026, in the presence of two people, Niță pressed an officer of the Constanța emergency inspectorate to avoid a sanction ending the commercial activity of a company controlled by someone close to him.

Next steps

The case moves to the ÎCCJ for trial, and both prosecutors remain suspended and in pretrial detention until then. Every named person is accused, and the allegations remain unproven until a court rules.