DNA's Kovesi: We won't solve corruption issue just by arresting offenders; we need prevention measures

The National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) chief prosecutor, Laura Codruta Kovesi, on Wednesday stated that the corruption problem won't be solved in Romania just by arresting offenders, sending public servants to trial or obtaining convictions for them, while adding that the investigative efforts of the prosecutors need to be doubled by prevention measures.

The statement was made on the occasion of a debate focusing the topic: "Fraud and corruption in public procurement. From combating to prevention," organized by the DNA.

"In general, when we talk about the crime phenomena, the approach starts from prevention to combat. However, and maybe you've already noticed this, we kind of did it the other way round, precisely because our investigations showed us that, in respect to public procurements or abuse of office crimes, we are dealing with repetitive patterns, with the same modus operandi on repeat, and that's why we thought that making a study through which to show this modus operandi and the typologies that we were able to identify during our investigations will prove to be a very useful instrument for the other institutions in charge with prevention. On the occasion of our previous public interventions, we have always insisted on this issue of prevention. For we won't solve corruption in Romania just by arresting offenders, by sending to trial the public servants or obtaining convictions for them. Corruption in Romania can only be solved if the investigative effort of the prosecutors is doubled by prevention measures and serious education in what corruption is," Kovesi.

She also added that more than half of DNA's activity is represented by investigations into abuse of office cases.

"Starting from these conclusions, we have launched this project and we've made a study at the DNA regarding abuse of office and fraud in public procurement. More than half of DNA's activity is represented by investigations into abuse of office cases. This is the reason why we started to make this study," explained the DNA chief. AGERPRES (RO - author: Eusebi Manolache, editor:" Mihai Simionescu; EN - author: Cristina Zaharia, editor: Adina Panaitescu)