Romania’s anticorruption prosecutors recently charged the former Development Minister Elena Udrea and Sorin Popa, the former deputy general director of the local lender BRD, for abuse of power and complicity.

It’s the fourth file opened by the anticorruption prosecutors targeting Elena Udrea.

According to the prosecutors, the former BRD deputy general manager has helped Udrea take a loan of EUR 3.2 million from the bank, based on overvalued real estate collateral. When the loan became due, the guarantees haven’t been enforced, according to prosecutors. Even more, Udrea’s assets were removed from the scope of the guarantee contract.

On Friday last week, prosecutors set a bail of RON 5 million (EUR 1.1 million) for Elena Udrea, to investigate her under judicial control in the Hidroelectrica - Energy Holding bribery and influence peddling file. She is also charged for illegally awarding contracts from the Development Ministry’s funds.

editor@romania-insider.com