Update: Corruption charges against the Permanent Electoral Authority, the institution’s head Ana Maria Patru remanded

National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) Ploiesti prosecutors have conducted searches on Tuesday at the residence of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) President Ana Maria Patru and at the institution, in a file investigating crimes of influence peddling and money laundering, judicial sources have said.

Ana Maria Patru was taken from her place in Voluntari to hearings at DNA Ploiesti and later in the evening she was placed under remand by the DNA.

Judicial sources said the searches are related to elections of the last election cycles, targeting mainly the elections in 2009. In 2009, Traian Basescu won a second term as president of Romania.

“In the morning of November 15, 2016, following authorization by the competent court, searches have been conducted in four locations in Bucharest and Ilfov and Valcea counties, in which a location is a public institution, the rest are residences of individuals,” DNA informs.

The deeds in question were committed during 2008 -2015.

AEP President’s husband has tried to flee with relevant documents for the DNA investigators, being stopped by policemen, sources quoted by Agerpres say. The documents are reportedly relevant for the investigation regarding the money circuit.

President Iohannis: The DNA investigation on AEP head – an unpleasant surprise. If prosecuted, she must be replaced

President Klaus Iohannis has said on Tuesday that the DNA investigation regarding the AEP head Ana Maria Patru is a very unpleasant surprise, adding that if prosecution is commenced she should be replaced from office.

“I don’t believe they (the elections results – our note) will be questioned and I don’t believe the way the institution functions will be fundamentally affected. It is a serious institution, it works for years in the elections issues and I am convinced it will do its job further on. The DNA investigation against the institution is a very, very unpleasant surprise,” the head of state said at Cotroceni Palace.

“It all depends on what the DNA will inform. For the time being I’ve learned the first checks have been conduced today. If prosecution is started, then certainly that person should be replaced,” Iohannis said, adding that he knows no details on the case.