Romania's biggest corruption cases in 2014

Romania’s anticorruption prosecutors were realy busy in 2014, as they investigated top politicians, public officials and some of the country's richest businessmen. This year was marked by some big corruption cases which led to several high-profile arrests. The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) was probably one of the top suppliers of headlines for the media in 2014. Here are some of the biggest cases which made the headlines this year: 1. The Microsoft licenses case – This was probably the biggest corruption case in 2014. Nine former ministers were indicted by the DNA in this case which investigates the purchase of overpriced IT licenses by the Romanian Government. A former communications minister and three businessmen were arrested in this case which will probably continue well into 2015. Whistleblower confession unveils influence network in Romania’s acquisition of Microsoft licenses and IT&C hardware Former Romanian communications minister, three others, arrested in the Microsoft IT licenses case 2. The illegal retrocessions case – This was, in fact, a series of corruption cases. First, illegal forest retrocessions were investigated. MP Viorel Hrebenciuc, one of the most influential Romanian politicians, was arrested for his involvement in the illegal retrocession of 43,000 hectares of forests. His son, Andrei Hrebenciuc, and another deputy, Ioan Adam, were also arrested in this case, along several others. Romanian Prime Minister’s father-in-law prosecuted in EUR 300 mln illegal forest restitution case Romanian politician’s son, arrested for attempted illegal forest restitution Former Romanian deputy arrested in illegal restitutions case The second large case was related to overvalued compensations granted by the National Authority for Property Restitution (ANRP). The chief prosecutor of the organised crime and anti-terrorism directorate DIICOT, Alina Bica, was arrested in this case, along with other members of the ANRP. Romanian Organized Crime Chief Prosecutor arrested for corruption