Florian Coldea, ex-SRI chief, suspected of influence peddling and money laundering

The former deputy chief of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), retired general Florian Coldea, was summoned to the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) on Thursday, in a case of influence peddling, according to judicial sources. The former head of the Legal Department of the SRI, General Dumitru Dumbravă, also arrived at the DNA.

The former deputy of the SRI Florian Coldea is heard following a complaint filed by the businessman Cătălin Hideg.

The influence peddling and money laundering case concerns Coldea, Dumbravă and the lawyer Doru Trăilă.

Coldea did not make statements upon arrival, but stated that “I will make statements when I leave“. 

Romanian businessman Cătălin Hideg and his company, Sanimed Internaţional, were sent to court by the European Prosecutor’s Office, in October 2022, in a case of fraud with European funds, the damage being estimated at 3 million euros.

“In order to win a tender for RECUMED, a project financed by the European Union for the creation of a research and development center in the field of medical recovery and biological reconstruction, the businessman presented several false and inaccurate statements and documents. These referred to the procedure for awarding the contract for the supply of medical equipment and to the construction works necessary for the realization of the project. Later, he managed to receive, between 2018 and 2020, non-refundable subsidies worth more than 3 million euros”, EPPO announced at the time.

In this case, Hideg was sentenced to 4 years in prison with execution, in February this year.