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Viorel Pașca Films Empty Care Home After Residents Relocated Amid Trafficking Probe
🇷🇴 Romania /Crime & Justice

Viorel Pașca Films Empty Care Home After Residents Relocated Amid Trafficking Probe

From Adevărul · () Romanian

Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Viorel Pașca, under judicial control after being investigated for human trafficking, posted a video of an empty care home in Dumbrava.
  • The video shows the facility deserted after residents were relocated, with Pașca highlighting the silence and the presence of a lone parrot.
  • Pașca is accused of leading a criminal group that allegedly exploited over 400 vulnerable individuals, including those with severe disabilities, since 2006.

Viorel Pașca, currently under judicial supervision, has posted a video on Facebook from the Dumbrava care center, one of the facilities implicated in a DIICOT investigation into human trafficking and organized crime.

The video depicts the center as eerily empty, with Pașca noting the absence of residents after their relocation. "It's empty, there are no more sick people," he states in the footage, which shows deserted hallways, an empty kitchen, and vacant rooms. He points out a lone parrot remaining in the facility, remarking, "Only he remained here alone. They didn't relocate him because he doesn't need authorization to stay here, in these miserable conditions."

It's empty, there are no more sick people.

— Viorel PașcaDescribing the deserted Dumbrava care center in a video posted on Facebook.

Pașca, leader of the "Dumbrava - God Cares" Association, returned to Bihor County after being released from preventive arrest. He faces accusations from DIICOT prosecutors for allegedly forming a criminal group and engaging in human trafficking. Investigations in Bihor uncovered over 400 individuals in clandestine facilities and a safe containing hundreds of bank cards belonging to beneficiaries.

Only he remained here alone. They didn't relocate him because he doesn't need authorization to stay here, in these miserable conditions.

— Viorel PașcaReferring to a parrot left behind in the empty care center.

Prosecutors allege the network operated since 2006, targeting individuals with severe disabilities and the homeless. Victims were reportedly stripped of their documents and phones, isolated from families, and left in the care of untrained staff while group members allegedly collected their pensions and disability benefits. Eleven individuals, including Pașca, his family members, and associates, are under investigation. Pașca faces 210 charges related to the alleged crimes.

During his defense, Pașca claimed the individuals under his association's care were sent by state institutions and that the organization's activities were purely humanitarian. He was placed under judicial control on July 2, while the DIICOT investigation continues.

I chose 300 who had no income, I selected them so well!

— Viorel PașcaA statement made by Pașca in his defense, as reported by the article.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Adevărul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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