Romanian Senator Facing Influence Peddling Charges, In Hospital Over Heart Problems

Catalin Carstoiu, the manager of the emergency hospital in Bucharest where the senator was admitted, said he was brought to the hospital at around 3 a.m. with a racing pulse and high blood pressure, complaining of chest pains. Tuesday night and was admitted to the cardiology unit. Voicu is set to undergo a series of tests.

On Tuesday, the Senate's committee for legal matters approved eight to three votes anticorruption prosecutors' request to allow for Voicu's arrest on charges of influence peddling and fraud.

The Senate is expected to hold a plenary vote regarding Voicu's prosecution 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.

After his hearing in Parliament Tuesday, Voicu said his prosecution would open a "Pandora's box" and other people would go down with him.

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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