Romania Ex-Minister Returns to Jail

Romania's High Court on Wednesday placed the former minister and presidential candidate Elena Udrea under arrest for 30 days in a case related to the illegal financing of a boxing gala, in 2011.

Prosecutors say that Udrea spent around 2 million euro on a boxing gala designed to promote Romania as a tourist destination. The payment was disguised as a publicity contract.

The prosecutors indicted Elena Udrea for abuse of office and attempted cover up. She also faces bribery charges.
The former minister has denied wrongdoing.

Elena Udrea on February 12 was also arrested in another case, for three charges of influence peddling. Prosecutors said Udrea received money to help a private firm extend its contract with the state for the lease of Microsoft IT licenses for schools in 2009.

Moreover, Udrea received money to expedite the development of the e-Romania web portal and also she requested and received 500,000 euro from a local businessman also involved in the Microsoft case, to help him unfreeze his assets in Switzerland.

Five days later, Udrea was released from the Bucharest police arrest and placed into home arrest. In the arrest she complained about the harsh conditions she had to endure and asked for approval to wallpaper her cell walls, and paint the bars and radiator.

Media reports say that Elena Udrea is a target because she could lead to former President Traian Basescu, whose close collaborator and friend she was.

Basescu, who was initially quiet when the scandal broke at the end of January, recently stated in a TV interview that he believed Udrea was innocent.

Elena Udrea previously accused a senior intelligence officer of meddling in politics and threatened to release damning information on politicians...