The engagement of the son of Daniel Cioabă, self-titled “King Cioabă”, celebrated with pomp last year, is now being investigated by the police, after the girl, a 14-year-old minor, gave birth to a child.
A new scandal breaks out in one of the most influential families in the Roma community. Daniel Cioabă, self-titled “the national king of the Roma”is accused of paying money to have his son, Kevin, a minor, betrothed to Sara, a 14-year-old teenager.
Everything started from the statements of Sibian Mihuțescu, a relative of the minor, who claims that, in 2024, the families of the two teenagers would have met in Dragășani.
During that meeting, the marriage would have been agreed upon, and Daniel Cioabă would have offered “ten big yellows” – the equivalent of approximately 50,000 lei – for the girl to be promised to his son, writes Oradesibiu.
“Cioabă Daniel bought a 14-year-old girl for his son. They paid her parents for the tickets, brought her from England to Dragășani and settled the amount there.” declared Mihuțescu.
He claims that the girl’s father would later present the money as his own dowry, “so as not to bring shame on the family”.
According to the same source, the girl would not have wanted marriage and it would have been “too childish for such a responsibility.”
The Ciobă family rejects the accusations and claims that the engagement was a traditional one, accepted by the two teenagers, and that the allegations represent an attempt at blackmail.
The two teenagers got engaged last year, in a lavish ceremony. Daniel Cioabă claims that his son and the girl, originally from Dragășani, but who lived longer in England, met on the Internet and wanted the relationship to be formalized.
“This engagement does not mean that the two live as husband and wife. It is only a promise, a guarantee that the relationship will not be broken. They live a normal life of friendship”he declared.
After the engagement, the girl would have returned to her parents and would have seen Daniel Cioabă’s son only occasionally. Soon, however, the teenager became pregnant and gave birth to a child.
The General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection Sibiu carried out the first checks and found that there is no risk situation. Later, in November 2025, DGASPC was notified again regarding the minor’s pregnancy, and the situation is being reevaluated.
The police are currently investigating whether the families of the two minors would have determined or facilitated their cohabitation against their will.
Dorin Cioabă, brother of Daniel Cioabă, known as “the international king of the Roma”, pointed out that the betrothal is only a tradition and that, in any case, the law does not allow marriage at such young ages.
Parliament is debating a draft law that provides for up to 7 years in prison for people who determine the marriage of a minor through coercion, kidnapping, misleading or abuse of authority.
