Prosecutors from the National Anticorruption Department DNA decided on Tuesday to officially start the criminal proceedings against Romania’s former General Prosecutor Tiberiu Nitu.

Nitu is accused of complicity to abuse of office in the case that involves the illegal use of police escort (motorcade). The prosecutors have also been investigating former Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea for abuse of office in the same case.

According to DNA, besides illegally using the convoy for personal trips, Oprea also provided a motorcade for the former General Prosecutor. Tiberiu Nitu has been using this privilege since April 2014.

Tiberiu Nitu went to the DNA’s headquarters on Tuesday morning, where the prosecutors informed him that he would be prosecuted for illegally using the motorcade.

“I have never requested nor had an official motorcade. The level of protection is granted according to the official's responsibilities and the effective method is not the attribute of the beneficiary, but the specialized institutions,” Nitu said when leaving the DNA, reports local Mediafax.

Tiberiu Nitu resigned last week from the position of General Prosecutor after his name appeared in the motorcade scandal. He had held this position since May 2013. His mandate was going to expire in May this year.

Dimitrie Bogdan Licu is the interim General Prosecutor. He will hold this position until the President will name a new General Prosecutor.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com