Fmr Romanian Defense Min Officials, FC Steaua Owner Becali Indicted In Land Exchange Case

Cioflina, also a former head of General Staff, is accused of abuse of office and Babiuc, defense minister in the 1997-2000 interval, is charged with abuse of office and bribe taking. Babiuc’s daughter is accused of accesory to bribe taking and Becali faces accusations of accessory to abuse of office.

According to the bill of indictment, in the 1996 and 1999 interval, the Defense Ministry, which administered the state’s public domain in Voluntari, near capital Bucharest, exchanged some plots of land (28.89 ha) with Becali. The value of the land was of $892,758.

Cioflina and Babiuc approved the land exchange between the ministry and Becali and breached legislation regulating public property and land transfers.

The two former ministry officials intervened to hasten the land exchange, even if the plot of land offered by Becali in Stefanestii de Jos was of no use to the ministry. Cioflina and Babiuc included in the 1997-2000 state defense Program the construction of a military point in Stefanestii de Jos to justify the land exchange.

Cioflina approved a land exchange with Becali, without informing the Defense Ministry on the matter. According to a contract signed on October 5, 1998, the ministry gave Becali a plot of land of 8.80 ha in Voluntari in exchange for a plot of land of 9.36 ha in Stefanesti.

Later, Babiuc approved another land exchange with Becali and a contract in this respect was signed on June 4, 1999.

The case will be tried by the High Court of Justice, which has set the first trial date for January 18, 2011.