The former mayor of Bucharest's District 5, Marian Vanghelie , was sent to trial by anticorruption (DNA) prosecutors along with 30 others, natural and legal persons, in a case regarding public procurement of goods at overpriced rates by the city-run Economat stores, according to a press release dated Monday, May 11. Prosecutors say that the stores, set up by the District 5 City Hall with the stated purpose of selling cheaper products to people, caused RON 120 million (EUR 23 million) in damages to the public budget after the goods were purchased at inflated prices.  In a public statement, the Anticorruption Directorate said that defendants formed an organized criminal group and committed abuse of office with particularly serious consequences, in a continued form, 26 times. The network would have the city-run stores purchase goods at overpriced prices and under illegal conditions from companies controlled by members of the group.