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DNA prosecutors froze Liviu Dragnea's mobile and immovable assets
Prosecutors with the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) took precautionary measures against Liviu Dragnea's [Speaker of the Deputies' Chamber and chairman of the Social Democratic Party] mobile and immovable assets, but also against the rest of the suspects in the "Tel Drum" case, DNA announced on Tuesday.
According to a release, the measures were ordered in order to recover the damage of the case, which is estimated at over 127 million lei.
In Liviu Dragnea's case, who was President of the Teleorman County Council at the time of the crimes, a distraint and a precautionary garnishee attachment up to the amount of 127,547,366.34 lei were instituted, "over all mobile and immovable assets, shares and equity interest owned by him with private legal entities, over the amounts of money in bank accounts, as well as over the amounts of money owned to him with any title, by third parties, including amounts owned as rent," the release mentions.
The same precautionary measures have been taken for Florin Nedelea, who is a representative of SC Tel Drum SA, Victor Piperea and Marin Predescu, both public servants with the Teleorman County Council at the time of the offense.
On November 13, DNA announced the initiation of criminal proceedings against Deputies' Chamber Speaker Liviu Dragnea, for creating a criminal ring, abuse of office and committing other crimes related to fraud, all allegedly committed in the "Tel Drum" case, in his capacity as President of the Teleorman County Council.
Eight more people are placed under criminal investigation in the same case, for similar offenses.
DNA mentioned that the case was built based on a notification of the European Commission's Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) dated September 30, 2016, regarding the suspicion of several crimes being committed, among which the illegal obtaining, based on false documents, of some European funds for restoration works of county roads.
Dozens of protesters yelled "Resign!" as Dragnea arrived at the agency Tuesday where he stayed about half an hour. Police and supporters formed a ring around the powerful party leader as he exited the agency. He didn't comment.
Critics say the Social Democrats' planned amendments to the judicial system are designed to protect Dragnea from prosecution.
He was convicted in a vote-rigging case in 2016 for which he received a suspended jail sentence.
Transparency International ranks Romania among the European Union’s most corrupt states. Brussels, which keeps Romania’s justice system under special monitoring, has praised magistrates for their efforts to curb graft.