An investigator of Romania’s mighty Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) was caught red-handed by DNA prosecutors while receiving a €6,000tranche of the €12,000 bribe requested from a company to help him win a tender issued by the directorate, DNA said in a press release.
The acquisition was to be carried out under the project
“Further development of the technical capacity of the DNA in the investigation of crimes against the financial interests of the EU,” co-financed by OLAF under the Hercule III Technical Assistance program.
According to some judicial sources, the contract was for the purchase of surveillance drones at the tune of €55,000.
“Between Sept. 15, 2021 – Nov. 16, 2021, the defendant, Despa Nicolae Răzvan, in the capacity mentioned above, allegedly demanded from a businessman (witness in the case) the amount of €15,000 and, after several” negotiations accepted the promise of €12,000 (payable in two installments) in connection with performing his official duties,” the statement read.
“On Nov. 16, 2021, the defendant Despa Nicolae Răzvan received from the businessman 30,000 lei (the equivalent of €6,000), on which occasion the flagrant crime was discovered,” the DNA said. The amount is more than half a year’s average salary in Romania.
On Nov. 17, 2021, DNA specialist Nicolae Răzvan Despa will be presented to the Bucharest Tribunal with a proposal for pre-trial detention for 30 days.
Established in 2002, the DNA reportedly works in close cooperation with the country’s secret services and so far has successfully prosecuted dozens of mayors, five MPs, two former ministers and one former prime minister.
