Radu Mazăre

Romanian prosecutors are set to start the extradition procedure for a former mayor sentenced for graft who skipped his police check-in on December 30 and left instead for Madagascar.

The Bucharest Appeal Court was set to issue a sentence on Friday in Romania's longest-ever corruption trial that has lasted nine years and counted over 100 hearings. But the court postponed the decision until May 31.

Romania's Supreme Court on Thursday jailed super-rich businessman Ioan Niculae for two years and six months for illegaly financing one of the main candidates in the 2009 presidential campaign.

The justices with the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) have decided on Thursday the 30-day arrest pending trial of Constanta mayor, social-democrat Radu Mazare, under investigation by the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) for bribery, interest conflicts and abuse in office.

Photo credit: (c) Grigore POPESCU / AGERPRES ARCHIVE