Romanian Anticorruption Prosecutors Hear Ex-Youth&Sports Min In Corruption Case

On July 28, the Parliament approved with 192 “pros” and 35 “cons” the general prosecutor’s request to start prosecution against Ridzi.

Anticorruption prosecutors noted that Ridzi’s adviser, Ioana Varsta, requested that three documents be drafted regarding the activities and estimative sums for events on May 2, namely, EUR300,000, EUR400,000 and EUR500,000, respectively.

In March 2009, Varsta, personal adviser of foreign affairs minister Cristian Diaconescu and business associate to several Bucharest-based companies, met with Bogdan Petre Iacobescu, administrator with Artisan Consulting and advertising company Mark, and told him the Romanian Youth and Sports Ministry and other public institutions will conclude contracts in 2009 targeting advertising & communications services, as well as event organization services. 

Varsta stepped down as Diaconescu’s personal adviser on July 1.

Prosecutors set off investigations following the notification of the National Liberal Party (PNL) in this respect. Prosecutors got hold of several e-mails between Ridzi, Varsta and other people involved in concluding the aforementioned contracts. Prosecutors’ evidence shows, among others, that Ridzi ordered by telephone that all e-mails be deleted, which prompted prosecutors to also hear the head of the ministry’s IT department.

Judicial sources said prosecutors resorted to phone tapping throughout investigations, with help from several cronies of Ridzi and Varsta.

Romanian prosecutor general Codruta Kovesi required Parliament approval on July 23 for the opening of criminal investigations on Ridzi over misappropriation of public money.

Ridzi stepped down as youth and sports minister on July 14, saying she wanted to protect the reputation of the government and of her own Liberal Party (PNL).