Timișoara doctor Virgil Musta, who became known during the pandemic, was remanded in court by DNA for inciting abuse of office

Dr. Virgil Musta of the “Victor Babeș” Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Physiology Hospital in Timișoara, one of the most prominent doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic, was sent to court by DNA for inciting abuse of office. He is accused by prosecutors of using three nurses in his clinic, even though they were seconded and paid by the hospital.

DNA announced Tuesday it was suing:

• Dr. Virgil Musta, department head of the Victor Babeș Timișoara Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases, for the crime of inciting abuse of office
• Diana Luminița Manolescu, medical director of the hospital, for the crime of abuse of office
• Maria Diana Albu, assistant coordinator of the Infectious Diseases Outpatient Department of the same hospital, for the crime of abuse of office
• Mihaela Dana Paica, doctor at the clinic where Dr. Musta was associated, for the crime of incitement to abuse of office.

The allegations that DNA leads to Dr. Virgil Musta

Prosecutors accuse Musta of having three nurses work in his clinic for three hours a day, even if they are paid by the hospital. The damage attributed to him is 12,173 lei, a figure that prosecutors have seized.

What does the DNA say?

• “Between July 21 and November 9, 2020, Musta Virgil Filaret, with intent, allegedly caused three nurses to perform medical services for the benefit of the company with which he was associated, while performing their duties at the public unit, respectively the Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pneumoftisiology Dr. Victor Babeș Timișoara.
• Using the influence he had in his capacity as chief physician of the department, the defendant allegedly determined the three nurses, directly or through defendant Paica Dana Mihaela, to take biological samples to detect infection with the SARS CoV-2 virus , collect the value of RT-PCR tests and issue tax receipts for the benefit of the private commercial company with which he was associated (using a mobile cash register).
• Although every day, between 07:00 and 10:00, they would have provided medical services for the aforementioned commercial company, the three nurses would have collected the entire salary by right paid by the hospital.
• At the instigation of Musta Virgil Filaret, in their capacity as medical director and coordinator of the medical assistant of the infectious disease clinic, the defendants Manolescu Diana Luminița and Albu Maria Diana allegedly violated their duties, in the sense that they did not take any action to the ascertainment of the disciplinary violations and the application of the appropriate sanctions or, depending on the case, the referral to the Disciplinary Commission of Inquiry to sanction the three nurses. Furthermore, Albu Maria Diana would have drawn up and the defendant Manolescu Diana Luminița would have approved the collective attendance sheets in which the hours worked by the three nurses were formally highlighted.
• Thus, Musta Virgil Filaret would have induced the three nurses to violate their duties regulated by the provisions of the labor code, the internal regulations of the hospital and the job description.
• Through the activity described, damage of 12,173 lei would have been generated to the detriment of the Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pneumoftisiology Dr. Victor Babeș Timișoara. Conversely, the private company, to which the defendant Musta Virgil Filaret is associated, allegedly obtained undue benefits for a total of 172,508 lei”.

The DNA specifies that the Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases has informed prosecutors not to bring a civil action in this case.

The file was sent for trial at the Timiș court.