Preventive arrest for Romanian central bank's former deputy governor

Former central bank deputy governor Bogdan Olteanu, who is currently investigated for influence peddling, will spend the next 16 days in preventive arrest, following a final ruling of the High Court of Cassation and Justice. On July 29, the supreme court decided that Olteanu would be investigated under house arrest. The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), however, challenged the court’s decision and demanded a 30-day arrest for Olteanu. On Friday, August 12, the High Court of Justice admitted DNA’s appeal and canceled the previous decision. Bogdan Olteanu is being investigated for allegedly demanding and receiving an EUR 1 million bribe from Romanian investor Sorin Ovidiu Vintu, in order to help him appoint the former journalist Liviu Mihaiu as governor of the Danube Delta. Olteanu resigned from the position of deputy governor of Romania’s National Bank BNR on August 1. The Parliament will name a person to replace Olteanu when the MPs come back from the summer break. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com