Runaway Romanian businessman and former MP acquitted in corruption case

Romanian businessman and former MP Sebastian Ghita, who fled the country in December 2016 amid several corruption investigations targeting him, was acquitted by the High Court of Cassation and Justice in a case in which he was accused of bribery, buying influence, use of confidential information, blackmail, money laundering and driving without a license. The judges also decided to revoke the international arrest warrant on his name, based on which Romania has asked for his extradition from Serbia, where he has been living in the past year. They also lifted the distraint on Ghita’s assets, local Mediafax reported. The other defendants in this case, namely top prosecutors and police officials from Ploiesti, were also acquitted. The court’s decision is not final. Sebastian Ghita is targeted by several pending criminal cases. After he fled the country, he started a campaign against the National Anticorruption Directorate’s chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, accusing her of working with the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) on taking down high-profile politicians and business people. Runaway Romanian investor acquitted in bribery case editor@romania-insider.com