Ooni Koda
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Newsfeed
  4. /
  5. Elena Udrea and Alina Bica remain under arrest...

Elena Udrea and Alina Bica remain under arrest in Costa Rica after Constitutional Tribunal rejects their release request

November 19, 2018

Elena Udrea and Alina Bica will remain under arrest in Costa Rica after the Constitutional Tribunal rejected their release request. Both turned to the constitutional court on November 6, against the backdrop in which they were placed under arrest for two months and are engaged in an extradition procedure requested by the Romanian authorities. According to Costa Rican journalists, Udrea argued that she has a new-born girl and prison conditions are not proper for them to be together, while Bica referred to the documents on whose basis the extradition was requested. Last Thursday afternoon, Elena Udrea and Alina Bica lodged another overture with the constitutional court, claiming that the sentences on whose basis their extradition was requested were cancelled in Romania, hence the two should be released. The judges are expected to decide primarily as regards the admissibility of this action, Costa Rican journalists write. “A very important factor that has intervened is the fact that Elena Udrea and Alina Bica’s lawyers went to Romania to bring documents concerning a recent Constitutional Court decision which shows that all the sentences issued in 2014 could be modified. They have included the documents in the dossier here and will use them to ask that the two be released. The documents have already been presented here and are being verified by the embassy,” journalist Gustavo Fallas, author of the article concerning Udrea and Bica, stated for RomaniaTV. The journalist also stated that Alina Bica allegedly asked the Pavas Tribunal – which ruled on a first release request – that Elena Udrea be released. According to the journalist, Bica allegedly said: “Keep me in prison but release her.” On November 3, Udrea’s first challenge against the pre-trial arrest measure was rejected by a judge from the Criminal Tribunal of Pavas. The information was confirmed by the Costa Rican Public Ministry’s Press Bureau for journalist Amelia Rueda, the mentioned source pointing out that Elena Udrea will remain under arrest. A similar decision was also taken for Alina Bica at the time. Former Tourism Minister Elena Udrea and former head of the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) Alina Bica were detained on October 3 by the Interpol National Bureau in Costa Rica. Subsequently, Elena Udrea and Alina Bica were placed under pre-trial arrest for two months.

The post Elena Udrea and Alina Bica remain under arrest in Costa Rica after Constitutional Tribunal rejects their release request appeared first on Nine O' Clock.

Read in full - click here
Future of Boards – Awards Gala 2025 celebrates boards and leaders shaping the leadership of tomorrow

On October 30, 2025, Envisia will host the 3rd edition of the Future of Boards Gala. The event brings together board members, executives, and governance ecosystem partners for an evening dedicated to recognizing responsible leadership, corporate governance, and high-performing boards. The six award categories celebrate individuals and boards who, through courageous decisions and integrity, create […]

Europe’s Property Finance Market Enters a New Phase of Stability

The European real estate debt market is showing clear signs of recovery, supported by stabilized interest rates, competitive lending, and renewed investor confidence. According to AEW’s latest research, the credit financing gap across Europe is narrowing, with improved lending conditions helping to ease refinancing pressures that have weighed on the sector in recent years. Between […]

French retailer Carrefour reportedly considering selling assets in Romania

French retail chain Carrefour may want to sell its stores in Romania and exit the market, according to the French publication L’Informe. Moreover, it would also like to get rid of its operations in Poland and Argentina, according to the same source. So far, Carrefour has reportedly only analyzed a possible exit from the local […]

Few Romanians plan to increase spending this Black Friday compared to 2024, survey shows

Romanians are not looking forward to Black Friday with more enthusiasm than last year, according to a recent survey. The main reasons are economic instability and the decline in purchasing power. Around 22% of Romanians say they will not buy anything on Black Friday 2025, and only 15% of Romanians plan to spend more compared […]

Romanian elected as first woman president of European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education

Cristina Ghițulică, a faculty member at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies (Politehnica Bucharest), was elected as the first woman president of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, or ENQA. Ghițulică is the director general of the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education. She was elected to head ENQA […]

Bucharest National Opera announces “Dance of Velvet Steps” performance for special needs audience

The Bucharest National Opera and the Kinetobebe Association announced “The Dance of Velvet Steps,” a premiere performance for the audience with special needs, on Sunday, November 16. The show consists of a ballet performance adapted and made accessible for children and adults with disabilities.  The performance is primarily addressed to children and adults with special […]