Sherban Andriy is the son-in-law of the mayor of sector 5, Christian Popescu Piedone, who is married to the mayor’s daughter Ana. They got married in 2018 and have two children. According to the 2021 and 2022 wealth declarations, the mayor’s son-in-law received more than 50,000 euros from the state, receiving a reward of three seats, as well as the allowance of the deputy of the local council of sector 5. He has been a deputy of the local council since 2020, he was elected on the humanist lists – the social liberal party founded by Dan Voiculescu and led by Piedone.

It will be recalled that on Wednesday morning, ANI accused the Mayor of Sector 5, Cristian Popescu Piedone, of a conflict of interest because he appointed his son-in-law to the commission for the sale of commercial premises.

Sherban Andriy is a deputy of the local council in sector 5 from the Humanist Social Liberal Party since 2021.

According to the 2021 wealth declaration submitted in 2022, Piedone’s son-in-law has the following properties:

• 1/2 residential building of 102 sq.m in Bucharest – heritage since 2002;
• a 70 sq.m holiday home in Mamaia, bought in 2018;
• a €15,000 Rolex watch purchased in 2017;
• a €25,000 Patek Philippe watch purchased in 2008;
• a painting for 7,000 euros, purchased in 2019;
• jewelry worth 28,000 euros, purchased in the period 2010-2022;

In 2021, he worked in four states and earned at least 116,759 lei from state funds, which is an average of almost 2,000 euros per month:

• adviser to the mayor’s office Sector 4 – 34,290 lei
• in relation to the company Totul Verde, the company Sector 4 – 20,045 lei
• allowance to the deputy of the local council District 5 – 13,140 lei
• member of the commission for the sale of commercial premises in sector 5 – 49,284 lei.

Andriy Shcherban also won 50,684 lei on sports bets at Superbet. He also received child care allowance in the amount of 10,784 lei.

His wife, a Finnish woman Piedone, worked in the Main Directorate of Registration of Persons, sector 4, from where she received 19,200 lei.

According to the 2022 wealth declaration filed in 2023, Piedone’s son-in-law stayed with the same property in 2022, but also purchased a 1987 BMW under a sales contract.

The price of watches has increased from €15,000 to €17,500, respectively from €25,000 to €35,000, and jewelery up to €30,000. He declared 95,292 lei on the account.

In 2022, he also had four jobs, all with the state, and collected 148,988 lei of public money, an average of almost 2,500 euros per month:

• advisor to the mayor’s office, Sector 4 – 54,612 lei;
• regarding the company Totul Verde, the company Sector 4 – 21,000 lei;
• allowance to the deputy of the local council of sector 5 – 13,140 lei;
• member of the commission for the sale of commercial premises in sector 5 – 60,236 lei.

From sports bets at Superbet, he had 61,138 lei.

His wife, Piedone’s daughter, collected the sum of 20,220 lei from the General Directorate of Personal Affairs, Sector 4.

Allegations that ANI makes against Piedone

ANI announced on Wednesday that it had discovered a conflict of interest in the case of Sector 5 Mayor Cristian Popescu Piedone:

• “Performing the duties of the mayor, he issued and signed an order appointing his son-in-law (first degree) as a member of the commission for the sale of commercial premises or services subject to Law No. 1000. 550/2002, as a result of which he received a material benefit (revenue collected in 2021 and 2022) for a total of 109,520 RON.
• Thus, the assessee violated the provisions of Art. 70 and 71 of Law No. 161/2003 in combination with the provisions of Art. 5, summer f) and Art. 228, par. 1, summer a) from GEO No. 57/2019″.

The commission manages and puts up for sale the commercial premises of the capital city hall located within the radius of the 5th sector.

Shcherban Andriy, Piedone’s son-in-law, was appointed to the commission for the sale of commercial premises in 2021 according to Mayor’s Decree 1971/2021, signed by Piedone. The mayor tried to pass the composition of the commission through the city council, but he did not succeed, the project was rejected twice, so he gave the mayor’s instructions. Since then, Andriy Shcherban has remained in this commission, although its composition has changed.

Piedone’s reaction to ANI investigation

“The National Security Agency doesn’t want me at City Hall,” was Sector 5 Mayor Cristian Popescu Piedone’s first reaction after ANI reported on Wednesday morning that he would be in a conflict of interest as he appointed his son-in-law to the commission from the sale of commercial premises. Piedone says he will sue ANI for allegedly limiting his right to a defense and manipulating voting intentions.

“The pathetic political and security interests want a puppet master at the head of the citizens of Bucharest, not a home owner who will fight for the citizens and the city! ANI, mother ANI and all the guards working against the country can no longer deceive Romanians. (…) Dear conscientious citizens, communist security lives under the guise of ANI. They want to stop my candidacy for the capital city hall. (…) If the security forces and thieves of the country want a national revolution, then it will be a national revolution to wash the country of traitors and stinkers!”, Piedone wrote on his Facebook page.

The mayor said he would sue ANI for limiting his right to a defense and manipulating voting intentions.

“I am suing ANI for limiting my right to a defense after publicly announcing the alleged conflict of interest before personally informing me of the decision! I am suing ANI for manipulation of voter intent, given that the report was fabricated immediately after I announced my candidacy for mayor of the capital,” Piedone wrote.

He says that he is not afraid and will run for the mayor’s office of the capital, and his son for the mayor’s office of the 5th district.

“Ever since ANI announced in the press that it was accusing me, I have been getting calls from citizens from all over and messages of encouragement! I thank them and let them know that I’m not afraid, I’m not giving up, I’m going forward and only forward. The thieves of the country know the following. I am not afraid of your file cabinets, prison and security! Christian Popescu Piedone is running for mayor of the capital! Deputy Vlad Popescu Piedone is running for the post of mayor of sector 5!”, Piedone also wrote.

Cristian Popescu Piedone announced on Sunday evening that he will take part in the elections to the capital’s mayor’s office from the party he leads, the Humanist Social Liberal Party, founded by Dan Voiculescu.