Prosecutor Horia Tiugan faces trial for driving under influence of illegal substances

A criminal indictment was submitted by prosecutors attached to the Bucharest Court of Appeal, charging magistrate Horia Șerban Tiugan, a prosecutor at the Sector 1 prosecutor’s office, with the offense of driving a vehicle while under the influence of illegal drugs. The case stems from a traffic stop by the Giurgiu County Police Road Service, where on-site testing indicated the presence of a prohibited substance. Subsequent toxicology analysis by the National Institute of Legal Medicine “Mina Minovici” confirmed amphetamine and ketamine in Tiugan’s system, impairing his ability to drive.

Tiugan, known for investigating the sexual-assault allegations against sociologist Alfred Bulai, offered a brief statement that the substances involved were medication obtained without a prescription. He remains eligible to serve as a magistrate pending a definitive decision after the preliminary hearing, as suspension can only be ordered by the CSM after that stage. The case has been forwarded to the Bucharest Court of Appeal for trial.