Big Names in Corruption Scandals
The Romanian political scene is again in turmoil because of a fresh corruption scandal.
Roxana Vasile, 21.10.2014, 13:50
With the presidential elections knocking on the door, the Romanian political scene is once again in turmoil, due to the many scandals of corruption triggered by investigations carried out by the National Anti-corruption Directorate. The latest one involves Social — Democrat MP Viorel Hrebenciuc, who has just resigned from his sixth office to place himself at the disposal of the judiciary, in one of the most resounding cases to have shattered the public space. Besides Hrebenciuc also involved are the speaker of the Social Democratic Party Dan Sova, as well as the formed head of the Protection and Security Service, Dumitru Iliescu. Viorel Hrebenciuc is being prosecuted for influence peddling, use of influence with the aim of obtaining undue benefits, purchase of influence and instigation to crime, in the form of direct or indirect use of classified information or allowing access to such information to unauthorized people.
Prosecutors say that the Social Democrat MP talked last week to Dan Sova, whom he allegedly promised support to win the presidency of the party, provided Sova supported him with legislative proposals regarding pardoning in situations that he was directly interested in. Prosecutors say that Viorel Hrebenciuc was also just about to use his influence in order to get undue benefits favouring Dumitru Iliescu, whose part would have been to inform the MP about the anti-corruption investigations targeting him and whether he was being tapped.
Also, Viorel Hrebenciuc was apparently involved in the illegal return of over 40 thousand hectares of land and forest, a case in which several other public figures are involved, such as social — democratic MPs, business people and Prince Paul, the illegitimate son of King Carol 2nd of Romania, and his wife. Those illegal returns caused the National Forestry Authority over 300 million Euro worth of damage. Actually, in this case, the National Anti-Corruption Directorate has called on the Romanian Parliament to approve the arrest of Viorel Hrebenciuc and also of another MP, Ioan Adam.
Another resounding case is that regarding preferential acquisitions of IT equipment from Microsoft. This one, also investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, is remarkable due to the large number of politicians involved: nine former ministers from both leftist and rightist governments. President Traian Basescu has authorized the Directorate to start the prosecution of five of them. The Senate is to make a decision regarding another two, and the European Parliament is expected to start a similar action against one who is a member of the European Parliament in Brussels.
