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DNA 2015 report: 1250 VIP cases prosecuted and bribes worth 431 million euros
President Klaus Iohannis stated Thursday that corruption is still affecting Romania at a profound level, stressing that the anti-corruption fight must continue at full capacity and that the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) must be a key player.
"Unfortunately, the problem of corruption continues to affect our society in a profound way. This is why the fight against corruption is far from completed; on the contrary, it must continue at full capacity, and the DNA will have to remain a player focused in combating this phenomenon, extremely toxic for the society (...) I am congratulating you for the 2015 report. (...) You are the epitome of a functional institution and you have created a standard for performance," the head of state told anti-corruption prosecutors after the presentation of the 2015 report of the DNA.
The head of the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA), chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi says that the bribes in cases prosecuted in 2015 amount to 431 million euros, a figure comparable with the budget foreseen to co-finance Romania's motorways programme for 2016, 2017 and 2018. Final sentences obtained by the anti-corruption prosecutors resulted in 200 million euros waiting to be recovered by tax enforcement officials.
In 2015, over 1,250 defendants were prosecuted for corruption at high and medium-level, including one prime minister, five ministers, 16 deputies, five senators, more than 100 mayors and county council chairpersons; one third of the county council heads are on trial. Criminal courts have given final sentences to over 970 defendants prosecuted by the DNA, Kovesi said on Thursday in her presentation of the DNA report on 2015.
The DNA had 11,000 cases, twice as many compared to five years ago. Anti-corruption prosecution was carried out, on average, by 97 prosecutors, for an average of more than 110 cases each. Currently, there are 7,100 open cases, or twice the number that could be closed within one year.
The DNA's judicial activity was covered by 33 prosecutors, with more than 14,700 participations in court sessions. The number of cases with final sentences pronounced in less than one year has grown by more than 60pct, while the acquittals dropped to 7.63pct.
Kovesi's team has sent more than 110 letters rogatory in 2015, and the resulting evidence shows, according to the chief prosecutor, that no criminal should feel safe, no matter where they hide their money.