Four years after a major fire in a Bucharest nightclub with 65 dead, the three owners at that time were found guilty of negligent killing. A court in the Romanian capital saw it as proven that fire protection regulations - partly due to corruption - were not complied with.
In addition to the three owners at that time, the court sentenced ten other responsible persons. A fire broke out in the "Colectiv" club on the evening of October 30, 2015 after fireworks that were used during a music show ignited the furniture.
26 guests died immediately, the remaining victims died of their severe burns after days and weeks. The last victim died a year and nine months after the accident. Dozens of injuries are still under medical treatment.
The three owners of the discotheque at the time were sentenced to eleven years and eight months in prison, the owners of the fireworks company to twelve years and eight months. The court also imprisoned the co-owner of the company and two employees.
The then district mayor, Cristian Popescu, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for abuse of office in granting the club's operating license. In this context, three town hall officials and two fire department employees were sentenced to terms of between three and nine years in prison.