Hidroelectrica Manager, Energy Minister’s Adviser Arrested On Corruption Charges
Eugen Bradean, trading manager with state-owned hydropower plant Hidroelectrica, and Ioan Mihaila, member of the company’s supervisory board and adviser to Energy Minister Constantin Nita, have been placed under preventive arrest for 29 days on corruption charges.
The two are accused of bribery related to an electricity sale contract.
The court ruling placing the two under preventive arrest is not final and may be appealed.
Investigators said Mihaila, in October, promised another member of Hidroelectrica’s supervisory board EUR1.4 million in exchange of his favorable vote on a bilateral energy trading contract that would have had the state company selling energy at a loss. Bradean is accused of accessory to bribery.
The proposed bilateral contract was voted down by the company’s board. (Adevarul)
Former Commander Of Communist Labor Camp Charged With Genocide
Ion Ficior, former commander of a communist labor camp in Romania, was charged with genocide for his alleged role in the deaths of 103 political prisoners.
Ficior, 85, was in charge of the Periprava labour camp from 1958 to 1963 where 103 political prisoners died.
The general prosecutors’ office said Ficior had “introduced and co-ordinated a repressive detention regime, which was abusive, inhuman.” It said 103 prisoners died while Ficior was in charge. (Jurnalul National)
Real Estate Developers Launch Four New Housing Projects At Bucharest Fair
Real estate developers have launched four new Bucharest residential projects totaling nearly 500 apartments at the National Realty Fair (tIMOn) held between October 24 and October 27 in the capital.
The fair unveils over 1,000 homes developed within 35 projects. The lowest price for a housing unit is EUR9,600 (VAT included) and the highest price is EUR1.612 million (VAT included) for a six-room penthouse in Bucharest’s residential compound Alia. (Adevarul)
Ponta: Romania To Revise Down State Budget For 2013
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said the state budget for 2013 will be revised down at this year’s second budget revision, which is scheduled for end-October.
People close to the matter told Mediafax state budget revenues in January-September were 6 billion lei (EUR billion) lower than expected at the beginning of the year mainly because of tax collection delays caused by the reorganization of tax authority ANAF and changes in fiscal regulations.
Romania’s government approved in July this year’s first budget revision, which stated a budget deficit of 2.3% of the gross domestic product in 2013.
The country’s GDP was seen at RON626.2 billion in 2013, RON2.6 billion higher compared to previous estimations.
Romania’s budget gap was expected to rise from RON13.3 billion (2.1% of GDP) to RON14.7 billion (2.3% of GDP).