Romanian Senate Committee OKs Prosecution Of Senator Accused Of Influence Peddling

Voicu was heard by the committee earlier Tuesday for less than half an hour before committee members took a secret vote to allow his prosecution.

Also Tuesday, the committee is expected to draft a report recommending the start of prosecution for the social democrat senator and the Senate is expected to hold a plenary vote regarding Voicu's prosecution as early as Wednesday.

Under Romanian law, lawmakers cannot be arrested without the approval of the parliament chamber they represent and after they are heard by the respective chamber's committee for legal matters.

Romanian media recently made public fragments of discussions which show Voicu tried to intervene with the High Court of Justice and the Police in cases involving businessmen Costel Casuneanu, Marius Locic and Constanta mayor's brother Alexandru Mazare.

Voicu allegedly also tried to pull the strings to become Interior Minister if social democrat Mircea Geoana would have won presidential elections in 2009.

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