Deputy Elena Udrea, remanded in custody by DNA prosecutors

Elena Udrea, former Minister of Regional Development and Tourism, currently a deputy in the Romanian Parliament, was remanded in custody on Tuesday evening by prosecutors with the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) in the Microsoft case.

Photo credit: (c) SILVIU MATEI / AGERPRES PHOTO

According to a release of the DNA remitted on Tuesday evening to AGERPRES, Elena Udrea was detained in the Microsoft case for committing the following crimes: influence peddling (related to acts pertaining to the conclusion and running of a framework agreement for Microsoft licenses in 2009, the subsequent contracts and additional acts to said contracts); influence peddling (in connection to the execution of the e-Romania contract); influence peddling (related to acts regarding the request and receipt of 500,000 euro); and money laundering.

Elena Udrea's attorney, Sebastian Striblea, mentioned upon exiting the DNA headquarters that the custodial order expires on Wednesday, at 21.40 hrs. Furthermore, he stated that the former minister made no denunciations and pointed out that the hearings took three hours, with the time remaining (e.n. ? Elena Udrea spent approximately 9 hours in the DNA headquarters) being spent on consulting the file and the issuing of procedural paperwork.

Tuesday saw "investigation acts ran only in relation to the Microsoft case", the attorney added.

Another attorney, Alexandru Chiciu, said that Elena Udrea showed no emotions and that preventive arrest will not be ordered.

"What changed in the meantime ? there were two counts of money laundering, the prosecutors renounced one count of money laundering, and this is very important", said Chiciu.

The Chamber of Deputies had previously approved the arrest of...