Romanian Prisoner's Royal Book Suspected of Plagiarism

A Romanian historian, Catalin Parfene, on Wednesday asked the National Penitential Administration, ANP, to disclose information about a book written by the businessman George Copos, expressing suspicion that the author plagiarized one of his own works.

On Facebook, Parfene noted that both the title and topic of the book, "Matrimonial alliances as a policy of Romanian Kings in the XIV-XVIth centuries" seemed all too similar to his MA thesis, published in 2005.

"I am extremely curious to see how this book, which cannot be find in any public library, has changed or supplemented research on such a niche topic," Parfene said.

Copos has no professional background as a historian.

Soon after, the ANP said in a statement that the single copy of the book they possess could not be publicly disclosed without the approval of the author. Even the publishing house that printed the book was not able to show any copy, saying it just printed and delivered books.

The controversial businessman was released from prison on Tuesday after spending 400 days in detention, a little more than a quarter of his four-year jail sentence.

He managed to shorten his time behind bars by writing no less than five books about history and tourism, by working in the carpentry workshop and by engaging in all the activities organized by the jail. Moreover, as he was over 60, the law also entitled him to a reduction in his sentence.

Under Romanian regulations, every two days spent by inmates working on scientific works or patented inventions reduces the detention period by three days. Copos had about 200 days wiped off his four-year sentence.

Copos went to jail on March 2014 after being found guilty of tax evasion and money laundering. Five months later he...