Former Romanian MP arrested for theft of oil products and tax evasion

Gabriel Bivolaru, former MP from the Social Democracy Party of Romania (PDSR) representing Ialomita county, was recently arrested by prosecutors in Constanta, Romania, after being accused of stealing oil products, tax evasion and money laundering, according to judicial sources, quoted by local news agency Mediafax. Prosecutors are expected to ask the Court of Constanta for the former MP's preventive arrest, as well as for the other suspects in this case. In 2004, Gabriel Bivolaru was sentenced to five years of prison for causing damages of RON 50 million to BRD. He was accused of fraud, tax evasion, and forgery. His wife Mona de Freitas and Paula Monica Plazzotta were also accused of being Bivolaru’s accomplices in this case. However, Gabriel Bivolaru was released on parole in February 2007, after two years and ten months in prison. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-inisder.com (photo source: Sxc.hu)