Mihai Barbu, the one who brought businessman Bogos to Ilie Bolojan's office, resigned from the leadership of the Railway Reform Authority
Mihai Barbu, head of PNL Vaslui Photo: Inquam Photos / Sabin Cirstoveanu
Mihai Barbu, the leader of PNL Vaslui and the president of the Authority for Railway Reform, an institution subordinate to the Ministry of Transport, submitted his resignation from his position. The information, initially announced by Club Feroviar, was confirmed for HotNews by the Minister of Transport, Ciprian Şerban.
Mihai Barbu's resignation comes a few days after DNA prosecutors indicted him in a corruption case involving Vaslui businessman Fănel Bogos. Barbu, who is president of PNL Vaslui and the treasurer of the party, was the one who brokered the meeting between Bogos and Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.
“I took note of Mr. Barbu's resignation this morning. I consider this gesture a normal one, given that he is being investigated in a criminal case and there is also a judicial review. ARF is a vital institution in the development process of the railway system, which is why I want its activity not to be overshadowed by such problems. I do not comment on Mr. Barbu's file, the facts have nothing to do with ARF”, the Minister of Transport, Ciprian, said to HotNews Servant.
It was proposed by Grindeanu
Mihai Barbu was appointed head of the ARF in April of this year, by a decision of the then prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, at the proposal of the Minister of Transport at the time, Sorin Grindeanu.
Mihai Barbu is being investigated by DNA prosecutors for committing the crime of using influence or authority in order to obtain money, goods or other improper benefits for himself or for another. DNA announced last Thursday that the preventive measure of judicial control was taken against him.
The National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) had already publicly demanded the dismissal of Barbu, accusing that the retention of an official under criminal investigation “calls into question the integrity of the projects carried out by the ARF”.
Investigated by DNA
The leader of PNL Vaslui is accused by the prosecutors of using his political influence in favor of the businessman Fănel Bogos from Vaslui, who wanted the removal from office of an inconvenient director. Mihai Barbu was the one who mediated the meeting between businessman Bogos and Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on September 23, 2025, in the office at the Victoria Palace.
Considered one of the main players on the poultry market in Romania, Fănel Bogos was remanded in custody in the case in which he is accused by the National Anticorruption Directorate of “relying on influence networks” to change the management of DSVSA Vaslui.
The transcripts in the DNA file claim, however, that Bogos would have paid 1.5 million euros to obtain the hearing, the purpose of which would have been to change the management of the sanitary-veterinary control institution in Vaslui and protect an important business in the poultry sector.
After the DNA announced that it had placed Mihai Barbu under judicial control, the PNL announced that it had suspended him from all positions held in the party, including that of PNL treasurer.
