Turkish businessman Abdullah Atas, convicted of killing a Romanian traffic officer in 2015 and sentenced to 22 years, escaped from Rahova Prison during a permitted visit between 23 and 26 January 2026. Romanian police have launched a nationwide search and the National Police Office has issued a European Arrest Warrant for the fugitive. Sources say Atas fled to Turkey after leaving prison; new photographs place him in a Bucharest restaurant on Saturday night, suggesting he may still be in the capital. The National Administration of Prisons and the Ministry of Justice have ordered emergency inspections of Rahova Prison to investigate how the escape occurred and to prevent future breaches. Officials warn that such absences from approved visits are rare and will be met with strict legal action if repeated. The case remains under active police investigation, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.

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