Sibiu Mayor accused by ANI of "conflict of interest"

The National Integrity Agency found that Sibiu Mayor, Klaus-Werner Johannis, has violated the legal regime of conflict of interest in administrative and criminal matters.

The inspectors found that the mayor signed in December 2010 a contract for services between the City Hall and Honterus Printing SRL Sibiu held by the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania, whose President was at the time.

He also approved btween January to June 2011 a total of three invoices for payments to the company.

ANI has notified the Prosecutor regarding the possible crime of conflict of interest made by Klaus Johannis.

The mayor of Sibiu, Klaus Johannis, rejects the accusations of the National Integrity Agency according to which he would be in conflict of interest.

Klaus Johannis believes that the National Integrity Agency is overzealous.

"There is no conflict of interest, of any kind, according to the law of this country. This is an excessive interpretation of the legislation. I would rhater define it as an excess of zeal. Of course, I was the chairman of the board, but I was neither the representative in AGM at the company Honterus, nor AGA member, and as president of the board, I had completely different tasks than to take care of Honterus and as mayor I signed the papers, evidently on the basis of documents that resulted from public auction. So, I am perfectly legal”, said the mayor of Sibiu, Klaus Johannis.

On April the 24th, the National Integrity Agency announced that had found that the mayor of Sibiu, Klaus Johannis, is in a state of incompatibility, as he is also the representative of the town in the General Meeting of Shareholders of SC Apa Canal SA Sibiu, from August the 5th 2010, and also at SC Markets SA, from April the 30th 2009, which is contrary to the law.

Klaus Johannis challenged ANI decision on May the 31st at the Court of Appeal Alba-Iulia.

On July the 2nd, ANI has submitted an application to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, of relocating the file of incompatibility from Alba Iulia Court of Appeal to another court equal in rank. The application will be judged by the Supreme Court on September the 20th.


Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea