Former Romanian Infrastructure Minister, sent to court for bribery

The Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors yesterday sent to trial former Infrastructure Minister Dan Sova on bribery charges. Sova, who is also a Senator is accused of taking a EUR 100,000 bribe to secure an agreement between the state-owned thermal power plant CET Govora and a law firm. The DNA prosecutors also sent to court Mihai Balan, the former general manager of CET Govora. Both defendants face charges of influence peddling and abuse of office. According to DNA, Dan Sova determined Mihai Balan, CET Govora’s general director and Constantin Lapadat, the company’s economic director, to sign two legal assistance contracts with his law firm, Sova&Asociatii between 2011 and 2014, in terms imposed by him, with the breach of their duties and of the law on public procurement. Sova received EUR 100,000 in exchange for trading his influence. editor@romania-insider.com