Jail sentences frenzy - Romania's best known (VIP) prisons

With so many arrests and jail sentences and prosecutors getting busier and busier with corruption and tax evasion cases, we thought a 'tour' of famous Romanian prisons is due. Here are the main prisons in Romania, and what former Romanian VIPs serve time where. In general, each county has its main prison, so depending on the defendant's official home, they will be sent to the prison which is closest to their home. This is actually a strategy used by people who believe they could be incarcerated, they move official residence so as to be able to 'choose' in what jail they will serve time. There are however a few jailhouses best known in Romania, most of which hold male prisoners; we also listed a prison for women. Rahova – near Bucharest This is a maximum security prison near Bucharest, 8 kilometers from the center of the Romanian capital, taking the road towards the city of Alexandria. The prison has a capacity of 1,685 across 237 cells. The prison also includes clubs for different activities, a medical unit, a gym, two outdoor sports fields, as well as a farm. In order to visit someone incarcerated at the Rahova prison, one could call +40374205653 or +40374205654 daily from 8 to 17,00, or email viziteprahova@anp.gov.ro anytime, at least 24 hours before the planned visit. Former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase was imprisoned at Rahova. This prison is used as the first destination for anyone who received a conviction in Bucharest, as they have to go through a 30-day quarantine period before serving their sentence, and before their type of detention is decided. Former senator Catalin Voicu also served time at the Rahova prison, where he said he shared the cell with former judges, business people, even a former ambassador. Syrian businessman Omar Hayssam was brought to Rahova prison in Romania to serve jail time for terrorism Jilava – near Bucharest The Jilava prison is located in the village of Jilava, near Bucharest, and is built on the premises of a former fort which was used to protect the capital in the late 19th century. The Jilava prison has 1,840 beds. Former Romanian football boss and land owner Gigi Becali, currently serving time in the Poarta Alba prison in Constanta, was initially incarcerated at Jilava. This is also where former media mogul