Former minister of Communications Gabriel Sandu, former tennis player Dinu Pescariu, businessman Claudiu Florică and Călin Tatomir, former general manager Microsoft Romania were sent to court in the Microsoft 3 file, the National Anti-corruption Directorate announced on Wednesday. They are accused of causing a ERUN 51 M prejudice to the state.
Gabriel Sandu, currently into custody for another sentence, is prosecuted for abuse of office by obtaining undue benefits for him or for another person. Claudiu Florică, representative of D-Con-Net AG, is investigated under judicial control for abetment in abuse of office and money laundering.
Dinu Pescariu, also representative of D-Con-Net AG, is also under judicial control for abetment in abuse of office and money laundering. Călin Tatomir, former general manager of Microsoft Romania, is under judicial control for abetment in abuse of office and money laundering.
Prosecutors say that defendant Gabriel Sandu, as minister of Communications ordered that a new contract for Microsoft licenses should be signed, as the previous one expired in 2009.
As a public sale was to be held, defendants Dinu Pescariu and Claudiu Florică, as representatives of the D.Con.Net AG contacted minister Sandu in order to be favored in the public sale, through a businessman. The investigators claim that Pescariu and Florică had paid ex-minister Sandu EUR 2,196,035 (Gabriel Sandu and businessman Dorin Cocos were sentenced to prison for influence peddling in this case in March last year).
Following the deal between Pescariu, Florică and Sandu, the minister favored their company in the public sale.
The total prejudice reckoned by the prosecutors mounts to EUR 51,396,345, representing the difference between the sum paid by the Communications Ministry (EUR 90,182,345) and the sum that has been invoiced by the license provider.
Prosecutors have seized money, shares and assets from the defendants.
The case was sent to the High Court of Cassation and Justice.