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Romania's prime minister questioned in corruption inquiry Romania's prime minister indicted in corruption inquiry
(about 2 hours later)
Prosecutors have questioned Romania’s prime minister on suspicion of wide-ranging corruption charges connected to work he did as a lawyer eight years ago. Romanian prosecutors have indicted the prime minister, Victor Ponta, as part of a wide-ranging corruption investigation and seized his assets, putting further pressure on him to resign.
Victor Ponta, who is recovering from a knee operation, arrived at the prosecutors’ office on Monday and walked up the steps on crutches into the building where he was questioned. The charges against Ponta include tax evasion, money laundering, conflict of interest and making false statements while he was working as a lawyer in 2007 and 2008. At the time, Ponta was a lawmaker. He denies wrongdoing.
He resigned as chairman of the ruling Social Democratic party on Sunday, saying he wanted to prove his innocence. Ponta’s personal assets – which include shares in a house, an apartment and several bank accounts – were also temporarily frozen on Monday. He sold two apartments in May for €150,000 (£107,000) and also sold a car.
On 5 June, prosecutors said the 42-year-old Ponta was suspected of tax evasion, money-laundering and making false statements. Ponta, who took office in 2012, is the first sitting prime minister of Romania to be indicted and have his assets seized.
Ponta went to Istanbul for a knee operation on 15 June and stayed for more than three weeks. He resumed his duties as prime minister on 9 July. The accusations against Ponta include forging expense claims worth at least 181,000 lei (£29,000) from the law firm of political ally Dan Sova. Prosecutors say he pretended he did work as a lawyer to justify getting money from the law firm.
The funds were used to pay for two luxury apartments and the use of an SUV vehicle. Prosecutors say that after Ponta became prime minister in May 2012, he appointed Sova a minister three times.
Ponta has immunity for some of the charges, including the conflict of interest accusation. But he does not have immunity for the tax evasion and money laundering charges.
The 42-year-old, who is recovering from a knee operation, was questioned at the offices of anti-corruption prosecutors on Monday morning. He walked up the steps on crutches into the building and he emerged about 30 minutes later but declined to respond to questions, citing his right to remain silent.
On 5 June, prosecutors identified Ponta as a suspect in a corruption investigation that has thrown Romania into a political crisis. President Klaus Iohannis urged Ponta to resign, but the prime minister refused. Ponta said he has not spoken with the president since 5 June.
The situation has also caused tensions within Ponta’s party, the biggest in Romania. Ponta resigned as chairman of the ruling Social Democratic party on Sunday, saying he wanted to prove his innocence.
Close ally Liviu Dragnea called that move a mistake on Monday, urging him not to quit as prime minister.
Ponta survived a vote to lift his immunity and a no-confidence vote in June. He then went to Istanbul for his knee operation on 15 June and stayed for more than three weeks. He resumed his duties as prime minister on 9 July.