Bogdan Gigina, a 28-year-old police officer, died Oct. 20 in Bucharest after his motorbike hit a construction hole while he worked as part of an official escort to Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea.
Traffic was reportedly heavy that day and rain worsened the driving conditions. Local media cited eye-witnesses claiming the motorcade was moving fast.
The Association for the Defense of Human Rights in Romania-Helsinki Committee and the Academic Society in Romaniafiled requests to the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office to investigate whether Oprea has illegally benefited from the use of police escorts in traffic.
This year, Oprea has reportedly used motorcades about 1,500 times, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
The tragedy angered locals and triggered protests, in part because Oprea declined to comment on the matter for six days.
During street protests, activists shouted slogans such as, “Down Oprea!” and, “If you care, out of the house!”
And President Klaus Iohannis called Oprea on Monday to advise him to step down in the wake of the public outcry, reports the AP.
Oprea has publicly responded that his use of motorcades is necessary for professional reasons, and that he would not step down.