Romanian Minister: No payments for Microsoft licenses, investigation could extend

The Ministry for Information Society (MSI) currently awaits a response from the National Anticorruption Directorate DNA on the possible extension of the investigation into the Microsoft licenses case to a contract concluded in 2013, before making a payment of RON 50 million (some EUR 11 million). “The ministry’s budget for this year includes the payment of RON 50 million for a contract that ensures the legality of using the Microsoft licenses in public institutions between 2013 and 2015. The deadline for the payment was at the end of October. After DNA announced that it started the prosecution of nine former ministers involved in the contract for Microsoft licenses for schools, concluded in 2004, the ministry addressed to the institution to find out if the investigation will also expand to the contract in 2013. We haven’t received an answer yet,” said Minister Razvan Cotovelea, cited by local Mediafax. Former Romanian communications minister, three others, arrested in the Microsoft IT licenses case. Romanian Chief Prosecutor: Microsoft & EADS contracts, higher than EUR 1 bln. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com