Romanian anticorruption prosecutors waste no time and hold former Finance Minister

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Wednesday decided to hold former Finance Minister Darius Valcov on charges of influence peddling. They also asked the court to approve a 30-day arrest warrant on him. The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) decided to detain Valcov just hours after the Senate passed DNA’s request to waive his immunity. Valcov resigned as Finance Minister on March 15, just days after DNA started a probe on him, but he’s still a senator in Romania’s Parliament. DNA prosecuted him for alleged bribery and influence peddling while he was mayor of Slatina. The prosecutors also argued that Valcov continued his illegal activities after he became senator and Finance Minister. They said that Valcov received EUR 2 million from 2010 until 2013 to help a local businessman win contracts financed with public money. Read more about this case in the following articles: What did Romania’s former Finance Minister have in his safe? Romanian prosecutors ask Senate’s OK to arrest Finance Minister, PM approves his resignation on Twitter What did Romania’s former Finance Minister have in his safe? Romanian Finance Minister probed for EUR 2 mln bribes and influence trading editor@romania-insider.com