Some of the new BMWs purchased by the Romanian police from Automobile Bavaria were on display on Saturday at an event organized for Police Day. We remind you that the purchase of cars is the subject of an investigation by the European Prosecutor’s Office and DNA.

On Saturday, the Day of the Romanian Police, the IGPR organized several celebratory events. The biggest event took place in Bucharest’s Herăstrău Park, and Romanian police announced that those taking part “had a few surprises in store”.

According to the press release of the IGPR, the police Intervention and Special Operations Service within the framework of the IGPR presented a “pyrotechnic robot” — “a highly effective device for detecting explosives and defusing bombs.” “The device reaches suspicious parcels, controlled from afar. The SIAS fighters also came with that special suit for protection during the interventions and answered all the questions of the citizens about what their job means.

The Traffic Directorate of the Romanian Police presented a mobile traffic training laboratory as well as new special vehicles recently added to the equipment of the Romanian Police.

• “At this event, the most modern means of measuring traffic speed were also presented.
• Radars, recently introduced by the police, can measure even at a distance of 1,200 meters. In just 0.33 seconds, the maximum speed it can register is 320 km/h,” the police said.

The event was also attended by Interior Minister Lucian Bode, who admired the new BMW cars purchased by the Romanian police.

Purchase of 600 BMWs by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the attention of the European Prosecutor’s Office and DNA

The Prosecutor’s Office of the European Union and DNA are investigating a sales contract concluded by the Romanian police with the Automobile Bavaria company for the purchase of 600 BMW cars, Free Europe reports.

Romanian police said in an official response to the quoted source that it had “provided all relevant documents regarding this purchase to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office” and that the cars had not yet been received.

The contract is worth 98 million lei, which is almost 20 million euros, and according to the mandate, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, headed by Laura Codrucci Kovesi, can investigate purchases from European funds if they exceed 10 thousand euros.

And the National Anti-corruption Authority (DNA) is reviewing the 2021 procurement of Police, a procurement process for which only one bidder appeared after a failed first phase.

Judicial sources told Europa Libera that the DNA initiated a criminal case last fall after self-reporting. The same sources also reported that the case is already at the stage of proper investigation, that is, there are no suspects.

New police cars purchased from Automobile Bavaria, the company of Michael Schmidt, a friend of Johannis

Last September, Free Europe and g4media.ro reported that the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police (IGPR) was buying 600 BMWs from Automobile Bavaria SRL, a company run by Michael Schmidt, a friend of President Klaus Iohannis. The Europol trade union accused a special tender.

President Klaus Iohannis said his friendship with businessman Michael Schmidt was not important in winning the tender held by the Romanian police to buy BMW cars, and stressed that if there were doubts about the legality of the procedure, there were enough competent authorities to check.

• “Now about friendship with me, I can tell you that it definitely did not matter, and my information about this procedure is only what appeared in open sources, that is, in the mass media.
• But I can tell you one thing very clearly, if there are suspicions, we have enough competent authorities to check these things. And if possible, I expect these authorities to check everything for blood.
• From my point of view, it is unacceptable that my name and my position should be involved in a case that can be technically verified.
• I think it is obvious to everyone that I personally have nothing to do with this purchase, but if there are, again, if there are suspicions, then I expect clarifications, and very quickly,” said the head of state.

Automobile Bavaria later said that Michael Schmidt, the company’s founder and close to President Iohannis, “no longer holds any position and is no longer involved in activities in Romania.”

Romanian police claimed they ended up buying “a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 600 BMWs” from a company run by a friend of President Iohannis, on the grounds that only one distributor appeared at the auction, even though four manufacturers were eligible. requirements, Mercedes, Jaguar and Alfa Romeo. The cited source said that the start of the procedures for creating technical conditions dates back to 2018 and that they are “aligned with European standards.”

Police also said a framework agreement had been signed for a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 600 BMW 3 Series, 4×4 vehicles at a price of just €32,000 per unit excluding VAT, plus €32,000. includes special equipment for police work, worth about 4,000 euros, respectively, a ramp, a seat post, an additional battery, as well as a set of winter tires.

Read more:

• VIDEO BMW scandal for the police. Bode: “The auction is fair. Full of tupeu, Drula accuses a high-level conspiracy, forgetting to say how crucial a role he plays in this case”
• Drula responds to Bode: “Watch how you breathe” / Document published by the leader of the Ukrainian SSR
• After the 600 BMWs, the police could also buy 75 high-speed motorcycles from the company of the president’s friend Yohannis
• As a friend of Johannis’ company was the only one in the auction for police BMWs