£45K Dacias cost police chief job

Romania’s chief of police has been fired ordering what the country’s government claims were grossly overpriced Logan patrol cars.

Chief Gheorghe Popa signed a €22.7 million (£17.7 million) order for 392 cars, valuing them at €58,000 (£45,000) each. An entry-level version of the Logan costs €6400 (£4950) in Romania – Popa claimed the difference in price was for extras including GPS and a video system.

Romania’s interior minister cancelled the deal, saying it was a gross misuse of public money. He has also reported Popa to the country’s anti-corruption unit.

Popa defended himself by claiming that he took the contract on at a late stage, and that “there would have been [financial] consequences if I hadn’t signed it.”

The European Union has already accused Romania of suffering from endemic corruption.