Former mayor of Iași, convicted for rape, brought from Italy after international pursuit

On August 15, 2026, the Romanian Police announced the return to the country of Ionel Onofraș, a 68-year-old man, wanted internationally in the MOST WANTED category.

He was sentenced to 19 years and 4 months in prison for serious crimes, including rape and sexual assault. Onofraș served as the mayor of Iași for two months, immediately after the 1989 Revolution. The man was handed over to the Romanian authorities following international cooperation through the International Police Cooperation Center.

He was arrested in Italy on April 30, 2026, following an operation carried out by police from Iași, in collaboration with Italian authorities. He was placed in a detention unit in Romania to serve his sentence.

The activities were supported by a prosecutor from the Prosecutor's Office next to the Iași Court of Appeal and involved an exchange of information between Romanian and Italian authorities.