Police chief sack due to ordering �45,000 Dacia's (RO)

Romania�s chief of police has been fired ordering what the country�s government claims were grossly overpriced Logan patrol cars.

Chief Gheorghe Popa signed a �22.7 million (�17.7 million) order for 392 cars, valuing them at �58,000 (�45,000) each. An entry-level version of the Logan costs �6400 (�4950) in Romania � Popa claimed the difference in price was for extras including GPS and a video system.

Romania�s interior minister cancelled the deal, saying it was a gross misuse of public money. He has also reported Popa to the country�s anti-corruption unit. Popa defended himself by claiming that he took the contract on at a late stage, and that �there would have been financial consequences if I hadn�t signed it.�

The European Union has already accused Romania of suffering from endemic corruption.