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DNA :Tariceanu received 800,000 US dollars benefits from Austrian company involved in the Microsoft file
The Senate President, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, indirectly received, 2007 to 2008, when he was prime minister, material benefits worth US about 800,000 dollars from an Austrian company, the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) shows in a reply.
"The prosecutors are conducting an investigation aimed at suspicions in relation to corruption offences having been committed regarding the cover-up of certain electoral campaign expenses with sums of money from a company that would have obtained important commercial contracts from the Romanian state. The case was set up in 2018, when three criminal cases were brought together, of which one was taken over by the DNA prosecutors at the request of the Austrian judicial authorities. Specifically, a dignitary would have indirectly received between 2007 and 2008 material benefits amounting to approximately 800,000 US dollars from the representatives of an Austrian company in exchange for the steps taken by the former in the exercise of his position, so that more additional acts be concluded to a commercial contract conducted by the company. The amount would represent a commission of 10 percent of the value of these additional documents and would have been used for the benefit of the dignitary, being transferred under fictitious contracts concluded with several offshore companies," reads the reply sent upon Agerpre's request.
DNA maintains that prosecution is being carried out in this case against other persons for committing the offense of complicity to bribery, and as far as Tariceanu is concerned, in accordance with the legal and constitutional provisions, conducting the criminal prosecution for the offence of bribery is conditioned by an opinion from the Senate being obtained.
In this regard, the Chief Prosecutor of the DNA sent to the Prosecutor General the necessary documents for the notification of the Senate that is due to decide. DNA further affirms that the opinion requested for Tariceanu is necessary for the prosecution to be fully conducted and to give him the opportunity to formulate his defense in a legal framework.
According to judicial sources quoted by G4Media, the company that had bribed Tariceanu reportedly is Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH Austria, the company that distributed the Microsoft licenses in Romania.
The name of the company was mentioned also in the Microsoft file in which Gabriel Sandu was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment. Among the denouncers in the file was the former chief of Fujitsu Siemens in Romania, Claudiu Florica.
The notification on criminal investigation has reached the Senate later on Thursday, deputy speaker Claudiu Manda has confirmed. Sources say the request will be discussed by the law committee on Monday, in order to submit a point of view to the Senate plenary.
Senate Speaker Tariceanu said on Wednesday the cabinet led by him made no payment for the Microsoft licenses during his term. “The Government decisions at the time had in view the inventory of Microsoft licenses used by public institutions. I remind that the contract was signed and enforced on the basis of a Government decision in 2004,” Tariceanu said.
Tariceanu said “we are witnessing another DNA made-up file.”
“It’s strange that, ten years after concluding my term and 3 years after the first mention of my name in the file, this topic is resumed, I believe is another reaction to my attitude against abuses in the justice system. My approaches, obviously, are disturbing for those who have taken illegitimately the power over Romanian state. Considering the file on false testimony I was acquitted in, it seems we are witnessing another DNA made-up file,” the Senate Speaker said.
Presence to ALDE congress – cancelled
ALDE President Calin Popescu-Tariceanu has canceled his official visit to Madrid, where he was to attend the ALDE European Congress, sources from Brussels have told Ziare.com.
The European ALDE Congress takes place November 8-10 in Madrid and will involve more than 1,000 delegates from Europe, according to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe website. The congress will discuss the initiative to exclude ALDE Romania from the European group, the request being made by an Austrian politician in August.