Romanian Senate Denies Graft-Sought Lawmaker’s Request To Be Heard In Plenary

The standing office of Romania’s Senate Tuesday rejected social democrat senator Catalin Voicu’s request to be heard in plenary before lawmakers decide whether to lift his immunity and clear the way for his prosecution.

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Voicu, who faces prosecution on charges of influence peddling and fraud, sent a request to the Senate over the weekend asking to be heard in plenary session, adding the Senate's decision of last week to lift his immunity is null.

Members of the Senate's standing office agreed Tuesday proper procedure has been followed and dismissed Voicu's request as ungrounded.

Voicu had requested the observance of his constitutional right to be heard by the Senate in plenary before lawmakers vote on whether his immunity should be lifted.

Romania's National Anticorruption Department (DNA) last week submitted with the High Court of Justice the request to have Voicu placed under preventive arrest on charges of influence peddling and fraud, after the Senate voted to lift his immunity.

The court's ruling on the arrest proposal is expected Tuesday, March 30.

Voicu, who was hospitalized the night before the vote in Senate, was released from hospital Friday after a medical commission established the social democrat senator has chronic cardiovascular problems and his health condition is stable. Bucharest emergency hospital spokesman Bogdan Popescu said the senator is currently under medical treatment.

Voicu had been released from hospital to attend the Senate meeting Wednesday but got sick on the way and had to be rushed back to the hospital.

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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