(Reuters) - Two former Romanian government ministers and a Credit Suisse banker were jailed on Tuesday for espionage and treason related to planned privatisations.
Former communications minister Zsolt Nagy was given a four-year sentence and formereconomy minister Codrut Seres was sentenced to four years and six months by the court in Romania, which has come under EU pressure to clean up its government and judiciary.
They were convicted of leaking confidential privatisation data and joining an organised crime group that prosecutors said targeted a string of planned privatisations in 2005 to 2007.
The European Commission, which has the judiciary under special monitoring, is expected to release a new assessment on Wednesday. Romania joined the European Union in 2007.
Credit Suisse investment banker Vadim Benyatov was sentenced to four years and six months for espionage, while Bulgarian Stamen Stanchev, who consulted for the bank, received five years and two months.
A spokesperson for Credit Suisse said: "We are disappointed with the verdict and will continue to support our current and former employees."
Six other people, including a Turk and a Czech citizen, received prison terms for joining an organised crime group targeting confidential data related to privatisations.
Seres and Nagy said the documents they were accused of passing on were not confidential, nor prejudicial.
Prosecutors said the organised crime group targeted, among other things, the planned privatisation of the Romanian postal service and the sale of a minority stake in oil and gas group Petrom, majority-controlled by Austria's OMV. None have yet happened and there is no current firm commitment to sell them.
Also targeted was the sale of power distributor Electrica Muntenia Sud, which has since then been bought by Italy's Enel.
The case has reached its last appeal and Tuesday's rulings are final.
The Nexus Gaming team, which represented Romania at the IESF World Esports Championship, defeated Portugal’s team in the final to become world Counter Strike 2 champions. The Romanian team is composed of experienced players Ciocardau, Xellow, BTN, Ragga, and Adron. During the IESF WEC24 championship, they defeated some of the strongest teams, many of which […]
Well-known American actor John Malkovich, who was on stage last week at the National Theatre in Timișoara, visited the city’s first official souvenir shop on Friday, November 15. The visit was announced by Timișoara mayor Dominic Fritz. "Even Hollywood has come to the new souvenir shop. We’re delighted that John Malkovich found high-quality mementos from […]
The CONFIDEX H2 2024 study shows a relatively stable year without major events that could significantly impact Romania’s economy, but leaves room for growing concern regarding the future. According to the study, supported by private equity funds ROCA, AGISTA, and CITR, the leader in Romania’s insolvency and restructuring market, only 29% of managers report optimism […]
Romanian president Klaus Iohannis was on a visit to Berlin from November 15 to 18 to signal the strong ties between Romania and Germany with a speech in the German Bundestag. He also met German chancellor Olaf Scholz and president Frank-Walter Steinmeier. During his speech, the Romanian president said that the friendship between the two […]
In a rapidly digitalizing world, companies face numerous challenges in managing documents and data efficiently. Andrei Negulescu, Strategic Digitalisation Manager at Matricia Solutions, shares unique insights into how his firm helps businesses navigate the complex journey of digital transformation. In today’s world, every business talks about digital transformation, but few know how to make it […]
The Bucharest National Airports Company, which operates the two main airports of the capital, wants to purchase 450 benches for passengers in the boarding gate area of the Henri Coandă International Airport, better known as the Otopeni Airport. According to the announcement, CNAB will purchase 250 three-seat benches and 200 four-seat benches. The contract is […]
