Romania Party Chief Gets Second Graft Sentence

Romania's Supreme Court sentenced ruling Social Democrat Party leader Liviu Dragnea to three years and six months in jail for abuse of office in a case related to two fictive child protection agency employees who, in fact, worked for the local political party branch.

Thursday's sentence may be appealed.

Dragnea's former wife, Bombonica Prodana, admitted her guilt and paid a fine of 1,000 RON [about 250 euros] fine in the case.

Several former employees of the child protection agency received suspended jail sentences of between one and three years.

It is Dragnea's second graft sentence. He received a two-year suspended jail term in 2016 for trying to rig a referendum in 2012, when the Social Democrats attempted to impeach the then president, Traian Basescu.

Because of his record, the court cancelled the previous suspended sentence. The Social Democrat chief is set now to do jail time.

The Social Democrats could not nominate Dragnea as prime minister in 2017 because of his first graft sentence. 

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