The High Court of Cassation and Justice decided to extend the preventive arrest measure against central bank’s ex-deputy governor Bogdan Olteanu. He has to spend another 30 days in prison. However, the ruling is not final, but has to be enforced.
Olteanu’s lawyer has already challenged the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“The preventive arrest measure has been extended for another 30 days. We filed an appeal against it, and we have to see what are grounds for this decision (…) Bogdan Olteanu is feeling very stressed that he cannot defend himself at large. It’s obvious he cannot go anywhere while in jail and he cannot bring documents. He is emotionally confused. The preventive arrest cannot provide him with an emotional comfort, but we talk here about the right to defend himself. He had nothing against the detention conditions, although they are not the best,” said Constantin Durgheu, Olteanu’s lawyer.
The defender added that he would file an evidence note at the National Anti-corruption Directorate and he would also ask for the witnesses’ hearings and face-offs.
Bogdan Olteanu has been imprisoned ten days ago. Initially, the court ruled the house arrest against him. He is charged with influence peddling occurred in 2008 when Olteanu was Chamber Speaker.
The Supreme Court admitted the National Anti-corruption Directorate’s request and ruled the 16-day arrest for Bogdan Olteanu. He has already been imprisoned in the Bucharest Police arrest center. He has been initially placed under house arrest for 14 days, as he had asked for a softer sentence.
Anti-corruption prosecutors accuse him of influence peddling and bribe taking.
According to the prosecutors, Olteanu allegedly received EUR 1 million from controversial businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vintu and other benefits in order to take steps for naming the Danube Delta Governor,
“During July-November 2008, defendant Bogdan Olteanu, as Chamber of Deputies Speaker, claimed and received from a businessman EUR 1,000,000 and electoral support, i.e. marketing and consultancy, in exchange for making steps upon the Romanian Government members to appoint a certain person as the Danube Delta Governor. The money was handed by the businessman through an intermediary, at the offices of a political party. Subsequently, following Bodgan Olteanu intercession, the person was appointed on September 18, 2008 in the office of Danube Delta Governor, “ says the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA).
Bogdan Olteanu has admitted during the hearings he had discussed with Sorin Ovidiu Vintu in 2008 on the issue of naming the Danube Delta governor but denied receiving money.
According to sources, Sorin Ovidiu Vintu sent to Olteanu EUR 2 million through an intermediary, after their meeting in the Danube Delta on the businessman’s property. Of this amount, EUR 1 million allegedly went to Calin Popescu Tariceanu, prime minister at the time, on order to appoint Liviu Mihaiu as Danube Delta governor, news.ro reports. Sources also point to electoral support, marketing and consultancy from the businessman, who had economic interests in the region.