Anti-corruption prosecutors seize former Romanian PM’s property

The Ploiesti bureau of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) has seized a building belonging to former prime minister Victor Ponta in the corruption case related to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s visit to Romania in 2012. The prosecutors charged Ponta with influence peddling and placed him under judicial control for 60 days, on September 6. According to the prosecutors, Ponta gained political capital by meeting Tony Blair in 2012. The visit, which had a cost of some EUR 220,000, was apparently paid for by businessman Sebastian Ghita, who thus secured his nomination for an MP seat on the lists of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). Ponta was head of PSD at that time. The building represents the only asset that has been seized in this case so far. According to the most recent wealth statement of Victor Ponta, he owns, together with his wife, the MEP Daciana Sarbu, two apartments in Bucharest and a holiday house in Cornu, Prahova county. Daciana also owns a house in Cornu. editor@romania-insider.com