Romanian Social Democrat Senator Accused Of Peddling, Fraud Suspends Himself From Party

Romanian social democrat leader Victor Ponta told a news conference Saturday that he asked the party's branch in capital Bucharest to oust senator Catalin Voicu from the party until investigations in his case are concluded.

Anticorruption prosecutors asked for the Senate's approval to arrest Voicu on charges of influence peddling and fraud.

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

Voicu will be heard by the committee for legal matters Tuesday.

Media made public recently some 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 also tried to pull the strings to become Interior Minister if social democrat Mircea Geoana would have won presidential elections in 2009.

If you liked this story, please follow MEDIAFAX.RO on FACEBOOK »

The content of mediafax.ro is for your information only. Republishing or using this content is forbidden without express consent of MEDIAFAX. For this consent, please ask for it by mail at vanzari@mediafax.ro.