Anti-corruption prosecutors indict ex-Minister Elena Udrea for abuse of power and graft

Photo credit: (c) Silviu MATEI / AGERPRES PHOTO

Head of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) Laura Codruta Kovesi sent Romania's Prosecutor-general the papers needed for the notification of the Chamber of Deputies in connection with the request for the start of the prosecution of deputy Elena Udrea, who, at the time when the suspected crimes were perpetrated, was filling the position of Minister of Regional Development and Tourism.

Photo credit: (c) Silviu MATEI / AGERPRES PHOTO

According to a DNA release sent on Monday to AGERPRES, the request for the start of prosecution proceedings zeroes in on the crimes of abuse of power and drawing of undue benefits for self or others, the attempt to use fake documents, the submission of inaccurate, incomplete or false statements for unduly accessing funding from the EU budget and graft.

The deeds under the spotlight are connected to the supposedly illegal award and use, between 2010 ? 2012, of funds under the management of the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism.

"On June 24, 2011, the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism awarded a contract worth 10,175,168.44 lei under which company SC Europlus Computers SRL [owned by then head of the Romanian Boxing Federation Rudel Obreja] was to provide services for Romania's promotion in the events that were to accompany the International Professional Boxing Gala organised by the Romanian Boxing Federation. The contract was awarded without negotiation and without the publication of an advertisement, and the amount was to be repaid from European funds. Under this contract, on February 1, 2012, the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism paid 8,116,800 lei for the promotion services. The public funds were used in a manner that is prohibited by law, specifically for the...

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