Former Romanian liberal leader sent to court in corruption case

Romanian senator Vasile Blaga, the former co-president of the National Liberal Party (PNL), was sent to court on Monday on influence peddling charges. The anticorruption prosecutors placed Blaga under judicial control several weeks ago, after hearing him in a corruption case related to the financing of the former Democrat Liberal Party (PDL), which Blaga led until it merged with PNL. Former Piatra Neamt mayor and PDL leader Gheorghe Stefan and Romanian investor Horatiu Bruno Berdila were also suspects in that case. The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) decided, however, to split the case and pursue Blaga separately. Blaga allegedly received a bribe of EUR 700,000 from a company owner, according to prosecutors. Blaga received the bribe from the company represented by the defendant Horatiu Bruno Berdila. Vasile Blaga apparently received EUR 0.5 million through Gheorghe Stefan and EUR 200.000 through another intermediary. editor@romania-insider.com