Teleorman County Council

The High Court of Cassation and Justice granted on Monday a request made by the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) to reopen the prosecution in a case aimed at Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea.

The Supreme Court granted the DNA's request to reopen the in rem prosecution and only in relation to the offenses of abuse of office against public interest.

Romanian anti-corruption activists and opposition supporters prepared for more protests on Monday after the ruling Social Democrats showed strong support for their party leader, Liviu Dragnea, despite his receiving a second corruption-related sentence last week.

The Supreme Court on Thursday sentenced national leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), major at rule, Liviu Dragnea to three years and six months in jail for fictitiously hiring two persons to work with the DGASPC Teleorman child protection and social assistance directorate who were actually working for the local PSD organisation. The ruling is not final.

Prosecutors with the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) took precautionary measures against Liviu Dragnea's [Speaker of the Deputies' Chamber and chairman of the Social Democratic Party] mobile and immovable assets, but also against the rest of the suspects in the "Tel Drum" case, DNA announced on Tuesday.

Romania's ruling Social Democrat Party chief Liviu Dragnea was called in for questioning on Monday by anti-graft prosecutors at the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, DNA.

Prosecutors say Dragnea is a suspect in an investigation into fraud involving European Union funds when he was acting head of Teleorman County Council.  

Liviu Dragnea faced an unconventional protest on Tuesday afternoon when a group of activists waved handcuffs at him as he arrived at the Supreme Court for a trial in which he is accused of instigating the abuse of office and forgery.