Romanian Anti-Graft Squad Detain Ex-Minister

Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors detained former Economy Minister Adriean Videanu on Thursday for 24 hours on charges of abuse of authority.

Anti-graft prosecutors seized Videanu’s shares, together with other belongings, in October 2013, when starting to investigate him for conspiracy and undermining the economy.

Videanu allegedly asked the chief prosecutor with the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, Alina Bica, to lift the freeze on shares he held in a company. Bica apparently helped Videanu, who then sold the shares for some 62,000 euro.

Bica's decision to was abusive, according to prosecutors.

In an unrelated case, prosecutors on Thursday indicted former presidential candidate and current MP Elena Udrea on suspicion of money-laundering and making false statements.

Udrea was questioned on suspicion that she failed to declare money she received in 2010 from her then husband, as she is legally required to do as a lawmaker.

Udrea’s former husband is currently under arrest for alleged involvement in a case involving the lease of Microsoft IT licenses for schools.

Both Videanu but mainly Udrea had a close relationship to former head of state Traian Basescu, President of Romania from 2004 to 2014.

Romania is still considered one of the most corrupt states in the European Union and has made only limited progress in fighting corruption and organised crime since it joined the EU in 2007.

However, in recent years, the number of high-ranking officials sentenced for graft has increased significantly.

BIRN