RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Court Rulings in Major Corruption Files

Arrests and final rulings passed in high-profile corruption cases.

, 03.04.2015, 13:46

The Romanian High Court of Cassation and Justice on Thursday gave three rulings of detention pending trial or extension of custody in several cases involving politicians accused by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate of having broken the law.



Decisions were made in the case of two Social Democrats, former finance minister Darius Valcov and the mayor of Constanta, Radu Mazare, as well as in the case of Elena Udrea, a former minister and head of the People’s Movement Party. The latter will be held in temporary police custody until end-April. Udrea is charged with abuse of office and bribe taking in what is now called the “Bute Gala” case, a boxing gala attended by Romanian boxer Lucian Bute in 2011. Prosecutors say Elena Udrea, a minister at the time, allegedly cashed in 10% of the value of the contracts she awarded for the organisation of the gala.



Former finance minister Darius Valcov will also spend Easter behind bars. The Supreme Court has upheld the anti-corruption prosecutors’ appeal and replaced the home arrest sentence in his case with temporary detainment. Valcov is charged with having taken bribes in exchange for awarding public contracts while a mayor of the town of Slatina. Valcov is also investigated for corruption in a separate case, for offences committed while a minister.



The prosecutors’ appeal was also upheld in the case of Radu Mazare, the mayor of Constanta, who on Thursday was taken into police custody pending trial. Investigators say Mazare received 9 million euros to sign the construction permits for some shopping centers, and to sign a contract for the city’s sanitation valid for 25 years.



Also on Thursday, the Court of Appeals passed the final ruling in the case of Ion Niculae, the richest Romanian according to Forbes. Niculae will spend 2 years and a half in jail for the illegal financing of the presidential campaign of Mircea Geoana, back in 2009. This is the first final sentence in a case regarding the financing of election campaigns.



In his turn, Gheorghe Bunea Stanciu, the former chairman of the Braila County Council, who convinced Niculae to finance Mircea Geoana’s campaign, is also behind bars. Niculae allegedly agreed to contribute 1 million euros to Geoana’s campaign, on condition that he had a say in the appointment of the economy minister and of the heads of major state-owned companies operating in the field of natural gas production and distribution. In his turn, Mircea Geoana has repeatedly denied knowing anything about where the money came from.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Source: NATO)
Today in the News Tuesday, 05 November 2024

NATO must stay united

NATO will work with the winner of the US elections, whoever that person may be and will do its best to stay united, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte...

NATO must stay united
Maia Sandu (Photo: presedinte.md)
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Moldova stays on path to Europe

Moldova’s pro-European president Maia Sandu won a new  4-year term in Sunday’s second round run-off, with over 55% of the votes cast in the...

Moldova stays on path to Europe
The head of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Toni Grebla
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Election campaigns in Romania

    The campaign for the general election in Romania started last week, at midnight on Thursday, and will end on 30 November. During this...

Election campaigns in Romania
November 1 - National Radio Day
Today in the News Friday, 01 November 2024

Radio Romania 96

Radio Romania has celebrated 96 years since it first entered the listeners houses from Romania and abroad. On November 1 1928 the Romanians were able...

Radio Romania 96
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Romanians’ concerns

Romanians and Austrians are the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe, but the former are significantly...

Romanians’ concerns
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Republic of Moldova, crucial final

On November 3, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have to choose, for the position of head of state, between the pro-European Maia Sandu, the...

Republic of Moldova, crucial final
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Drones, a security issue

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has placed under decisional transparency a bill that improves airspace security measures. The bill, which...

Drones, a security issue
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has rejected the referral of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) in relation to the so-called...

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company