Florin Popescu
Florin Popescu distributed chicken in attempt to become leader of council
Fried food was worth $121,000 (£85,000) and he was found out after firm told police
Bucharest court declined to give him parole and he faces two years in jail
A Romanian politician nicknamed the 'Chicken Baron' is facing jail after he tried to bribe voters with 60 tonnes of fried food.
Disgraced Florin Popescu secured a load of chicken worth £85,000 and distributed it to thousands of constituents with the help of volunteers.
He committed the crime while standing for another term as the leader of a council in Dambovita County, before entering office as an MP, in 2012.
Baron: Politician Florin Popescu distributed 60 tonnes of fried chicken to thousands of voters (file photo)
After his dealings came to light during a hearing, Popescu was refused bail by a Bucharest court and also had an appeal rejected. He now faces two years in prison.
The politician was found out after the company that made the fried chicken called in his stunt to anti-corruption authorities.
A detective said: 'On April 5, 2012 several people sent by Florin Popescu loaded the fried chicken into vans and took it to various locations where it was distributed.
'All the packages of chicken were distributed for election purposes.'
After resigning his seat last month, Popescu said: 'Politics is a sweet rose but it can sometimes have a bitter taste.'
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