Employment agency chief takes bribes for jobs

The Romanian anti-corruption authority, the DNA, caught the president onf the National Agency for Employment Silviu Bian in the act of receiving a bribe amounting to approximately 20,000 euros on Saturday. The money came from employees of the Braşov job centre whom Bian was to spare in upcoming staff cuts. The daily Adevărul has the feeling the clock has been turned back three centuries: "The money was being paid by a group of Bian's subordinates so that they could keep their jobs. How disgusting! Each of the employees involved gave him half of a month's salary. ... In the times of the Phanariots [Greeks who lived in Constantinople and ruled Walachia in the 18th century] this was referred to as a tribute, nowadays it's called a 'little gift'. ... The Braşov officials didn't really have a problem with Bian taking bribes but with the fact that he wanted bribes from them in particular. When they could no longer bear the situation they brought charges against him. But until then everyone played along, and we can safely assume that they in turn got their bribe money from others."

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