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Romanian Pres: Amendments To Criminal Code Offer A Way Out To Probed Politicians

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Tuesday said that, if promoted, the current version of the Criminal Procedure Code would have offered a way out to a series of politicians investigated in connection with criminal activities, as one of the provisions said probes could not last for more than six months.
Romanian Pres: Amendments To Criminal Code Offer A Way Out To Probed Politicians
20 nov. 2007, 19:44, English

Mentioning a case from Italian justice, where authorities successfully concluded a 12-year investigation into mob structures, Basescu wandered how the Italians’ probe would have ended if the law had banned investigations that exceeded 6 months periods.

As to the possible impact on the Romanian legislation, “political clientele” including names such as Dinu Patriciu (probed in connection with defrauding Romanian state), Ovidiu Tender (fraud, money laundering), Adrian Nastase (former premier, accused of corruption), Codrut Seres (former economy minister, probed in connection with illegal privatization) etc., would have eluded justice if prosecutors had to stop the investigations.

Another provision that would allow criminals to “sleep like a baby” stipulates that aggravated consequences in case of embezzlement and fiscal evasion charges are to be added only for amounts of minimum EUR10 million.

“Many on-going cases involving fiscal evasion and embezzlement cannot be sanctioned in court any longer,” Basescu said.

Basescu sent back for reexamination to the lawmakers on Tuesday the Government emergency Ordinance 60/2006 amending the Criminal Procedure Code.

The act was adopted in the Chamber of Deputies on October 22 and sent to the presidency for promulgation on November 5.