Former DIICOT chief gets prison sentence

The former head of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism – DIICOT, Alina Bica, received a definitive, 4-year prison sentence

Roxana Vasile, 27.06.2018, 13:36

Alina Bica, the former head of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism — DIICOT on Tuesday received a definitive, 4-year prison sentence in a case in which anti-corruption prosecutors accused her of aiding and abetting in crime. In 2013 she put pressure on prosecutors for a controversial businessman, Ovidiu Tender, who was under investigation, to receive a suspended sentence. The 4-year sentence will be diminished by the period of time in which she was held in temporary custody, namely January to June 2015. The same Alina Bica, involved in another two cases, was acquitted in the one in which she was accused of receiving bribe for closing a case involving another businessman.

At present, Alina Bica is not in Romania, and in December her lawyers had announced she could not attend the trial because of an accident she had suffered in Spain. Later it was discovered that the former DIICOT chief was safe and sound in far-away Costa Rica where she had applied for political asylum.

Alina Bica served as a model for Elena Udrea, a former presidential advisor, head of the chancellery of the president, a former tourism minister and also former minister for regional development. She was also known as being close to president Traian Basescu’s entourage, and she actually owes President Basescu her political ascension. Elena Udrea also received a definitive sentence from the High Court of Cassation and Justice, namely 6 years in prison and the payment of 3 million Euros in damages in the case known as the Bute Gala. In that respective file, prosecutors accused Elena Udrea of having illegally used public funds to fund a boxing gala featuring former world champion Lucian Bute. Found guilty of bribe taking and abuse of office, Elena Udrea claims she is not guilty and hopes to obtain the status of political refugee in Costa Rica.

Another Romanian politician with legal problems is Radu Mazare, a former mayor of Constanta, who also fled the country taking refuge to Madagascar, as he was accused of corruption. Not only did he set up a business in Madagascar but he also asked for the authorities’ protection, claiming that he was being politically persecuted in Romania. Other Romanian offenders who fled the country are tycoon Puiu Popoviciu, who took refuge in London although he received a definitive 7-year prison sentence, and politician and businessman Sebastian Ghita, who took refuge in Belgrade, despite the many cases in which he is being investigated.

(Translated by L. Simion)