Nine former Romanian ministers face an investigation for corruption and money laundering in a case involving the lease of Microsoft IT licenses for schools.
According to reports of Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), as cited by Romania Insider, the nine ministers face accusations of signing contracts for the acquisition of IT licenses and software and hardware equipment for schools at unreasonably high prices.
The former Romanian ministers facing a corruption probe are Ecaterina Andronescu, Valerian Vreme, Serban Mihailescu, Dan Nica, Adriana Ticau, Gabriel Sandu, Daniel Funeriu, Alexandru Athanasiu and Mihai Tanasescu.
An investigation revealed that out of the USD 54 M that was paid by the government under the licensing contract and its extension, commissions to be paid to public officials amounted to USD 20 M.
Apart from that, a project worth USD 200 M awarded to Romanian IT company Siveco for equipping schools in Romania with computers and software had envisaged overpriced software and equipment.
The period of the investigation starts in 2001 and spans the terms in office of three governments – that of Adrian Nastase, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, and Emil Boc.
Romania’s DNA sent requests to the the president, the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies and the European Parliament to strip the former ministers of immunity from prosecution so that criminal proceedings against them could be launched.