RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

High-Level Corruption Cases

Investigations into a restitution case have revealed other, equally serious instances of abuse.

High-Level Corruption Cases
High-Level Corruption Cases

, 15.12.2014, 13:51

The Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism Friday presented its annual report. Since its establishment 10 years ago, the institution investigated nearly 65 thousand cases, and over 10 thousand of them resulted in the indictment of over 30 thousand people.



But the image of the institution is stained by the recent corruption accusations brought against its chief, Alina Bica. She was arrested under charges of abuse of office, for misdeeds committed as a member of a committee in charge with the return of property seized by the communist regime.



In 2011, she reportedly approved the payment of nearly 84 million euros to businessman Gheorghe Stelian, as compensation for a 13-ha park in Bucharest, although the fair price of the land was a lot smaller. According to anti-corruption prosecutors, the state lost around 60 million euros in this affair. But information surfaced on Sunday, which indicates that the implications of this case are a lot deeper and other offenses might be related to it.



Currently under arrest pending trial, Alina Bica is now also probed into for having received 3.5 million euros in bribe from another businessman, Ioan Nicolae, in exchange for repeatedly postponing an anti-corruption investigation until the date laid down in the statute of limitation. Apart from the bribe, the businessman allegedly promised Alina Bica to use his political connections to have her appointed prosecutor general of Romania. The deputy PM Liviu Dragnea was supposed to help her, which the Social Democratic leader now vehemently denies:



Liviu Dragnea: “This is the first time that I hear about it, and I would find it amusing if it weren’t so serious. How could I do this? How could I nominate the prosecutor general? I’m not the justice minister, and I’ve never been the justice minister, so how could I make the nomination?”



Meanwhile, the investigations continue in the overpriced property restitution case, which involves very intricate connections and large amounts of money. Alica Bica allegedly received a tract of land near Bucharest, without paying anything for it. And businessman Dorin Cocos, the ex-husband of Elena Udrea, the head of the People’s Movement Party and a presidential candidate in this year’s elections, is accused of having received money for his involvement in the restitution. Politician Elena Udrea, whose friendship with Alina Bica was also long known, denies any involvement in the case.

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
(Photo: pixabay@Engin_Akyurt)
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
Elections in Moldova (Photo: Radio Chișinău)
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
Foto: Baza 71 Aeriană / MApn
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
Today in the News Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Challenges of an ageing population

Romanians are getting fewer and older.   The population of Romania in mid-2024 was 21,779,000, down 1% compared to June 1, 2023. According to...

Challenges of an ageing population
Today in the News Monday, 28 October 2024

Romania sees rising public debt levels

Government debt rose in July to over 876 billion lei (that’s around 175 billion euros), from 860 billion lei in the previous month, according to...

Romania sees rising public debt levels
Today in the News Monday, 28 October 2024

Presidential debate in the Republic of Moldova

An unusual electoral debate, in form, but predictable in content, had as protagonists, on Sunday, the two remaining candidates in the presidential...

Presidential debate in the Republic of Moldova

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