New Romanian Econ Min Probed In Petrom Sibiu Case In 2003, Charges Dropped

The case was opened through a 2002 complaint of state-owned oil company Petrom against nine employees - administrators, shop assistants and Peco Sibiu then-commercial manager Ion Ariton. Petrom said their failure to perform their duties caused RON1 million in damages to the company.

One of the administrators committed suicide before the completion of the investigation.

Prosecutors could not find evidence linking the manner in which the nine performed their duties and the alleged damage caused to the company's stock of petroleum products. Charges were dropped against all of the suspects.

Codruta Kovesi, then a prosecutor with the Court of Sibiu Prosecutor's Office and currently Prosecutor General of Romania, was in charge of the case.

Ion Ariton, a senator representing Sibiu's 34th constituency and head of the Senate's Committee for budget and finances, was sworn in Friday as Minister of Economy. Between 1993 and 2003, he was commercial manager and general manager of Petrom Sibiu. He left Petrom in 2003, and from 2005 until 2007, he was prefect of Sibiu County.

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