The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) has launched a criminal investigation into alleged abuse of office involving the administration led by former Timișoara mayor Dominic Fritz. The probe focuses on the management of nearly 68 million lei intended for the heating company Colterm.
Prosecutors suspect that funds allocated by the government to offset the rising cost of gigacalories were used for purposes other than those legally prescribed. This alleged misuse has reportedly caused financial harm to the insolvent company. The investigation examines administrative decisions made between 2021 and 2022.
Among those under scrutiny are Dominic Fritz, interim mayor Ruben Lațcău, and public administrator Marius Creiveanu, according to Antena 3 CNN. The case was initiated by the DNA’s Timișoara Territorial Service following a self-reported notification on August 3, 2026.
Investigators have requested various documents from the Timișoara City Hall related to financial operations conducted in 2021 and 2022. Currently, the investigation is being conducted in rem, focusing on the suspected actions without officially designating any individuals as suspects or defendants.
According to documents cited by Antena 3 CNN, prosecutors have found evidence suggesting the illegal use of 67,840,130 lei, which should have been allocated to Colterm. The misuse of these funds allegedly provided an undue benefit to the Timișoara municipality’s budget.
The funds in question were intended as a subsidy to cover increased thermal energy costs during the energy crisis affecting Romania since 2021. The investigation reportedly began after Colterm’s judicial administrator identified irregularities in the use of funds transferred from the Ministry of Development to the municipality.
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