Located near the Bazilescu Park, in the Bucharest Noi neighborhood in the north of the Capital, the 16 February market covers about 1,500 square meters.
Almost two decades, the market of February 16, from the Capital, was in the administration of Nicolae Cristescu, Mason and former financier of the Rapid club, accused by DIICOT and judged for setting up criminal group and blackmail, writes the Snoop investigative site.
The contract between the company of Nicolae Cristescu and the City Hall of Sector 1 has expired for one year, but he refuses to teach the market and sued the institution.
What did the mayors promise
“For 25 years, the market of February 16 was captive in the hands of the PSD and PNL clients from Sector 1. This spring we notified the 200 traders that we will take it in administration to modernize it to Western standards and not pay the taxes to PSD. 2024, Clotilde Armand, the former mayor of Sector 1.
On August 6, 2024, one day after the contract had expired, a team of officials of the City Hall and the Local Police, led by the deputy mayor of that time, Oliver Păiuși (USR), was on the market of February 16 to take over its control. However, Nicolae Cristescu refused to sign the teaching-receipt process and to release the space.
“I was with a team of about 40 officials, because I found an illegality. We were refused access, the Director of the Police of Sector 1 was not allowed to do his job, I was simply blocked by several people,” said Oliver Păiuși.
According to Snoop sources, the businessman then told police that he “has everyone in hand.”
And the current mayor of Sector 1, George Tuță, has promised several times in the election campaign for the local elections that took place last year that he would restore the market “February 16th, if he will win the mayor's chair.
Tuță: “something totally abusive”
It's been a year since the contract has expired and nothing has changed.
Mayor Tuță explained for Snoop that, although the concession was between the Local Council and the Teomod company of Nicolae Cristescu, the City Hall did not take the steps to give the mayor not to extend the contract. Thus, Cristescu went to court. “It was a legal complication, but it is completed. Now there is a council decision by which I was empowered to terminate that contract,” explained Mayor Tuță for snoop.
Tuță acknowledged that what is happening in the Square February 16 is “something totally abusive” and that he spoke personally with the former mayor of the Capital, Nicușor Dan, and with the current interim, Stelian Bujduveanu, in order to signed the demolition disposition of the unauthorized constructions.
How much money Cristescu has taken out of Square 16 February
“I was a loyal and good faith partner of the City Hall, the City Hall made a profit,” says Cristescu.
In 16 years, in the period 2009-2024, the City Hall of Sector 1 received a total of 5,922,928.21 lei, the equivalent of approximately $ 1,531.155. The amounts that went to the local administration began to decrease considerably since 2016, in some cases the receipts being four times lower than the first years for which there are official data. All about money in the Snoop investigation.
