DNA prosecutors confiscate EUR 310 mln in 2014, up three times y-o-y

The values confiscated last year by the Romanian Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) prosecutors amount to over EUR 303 million, three times more compared to 2013. Despite the positive DNA 2014 results, president Klaus Iohannis criticized the National Fiscal Administration (ANAF) for recovering only 10 percent of the prejudices caused to the state by those convicted in corruption files.

“We shouldn’t forget that in order to carry out the criminal law’s goal it is important that a person sentenced for corruption does not keep their wealth obtained through criminal deeds. In 2014, the values confiscated b y the DNA exceeded EUR 303 million, which means over 13 times our yearly budget. The sums confiscated could be a significant source of public revenue, an element that should not be ignored in this period. The final court decisions in the DNA cases in 2014 have included the confiscation and recovery of criminal goods amounting to over EUR 310 million, three times more than in 2013. If this sum is actually seized, the salary fund the state pays to the medical doctors for one year would be covered,” said on Tuesday the DNA Chief Prosecutor, Laura Codruta Kovesi (photo), according to Agerpres.

On the other hand, the DNA head specified that following the significant reorganization, assumed and completed in 2014, a boost was given to the territorial structures’ activities and an increase of their activity’s efficiency.

Kovesi also said that the DNA’s activity was influenced by the legislative alterations which occurred in 2014, the major impact being given by the new Codes’ enforcement.

Also over the past year, the anticorruption prosecutors requested the arrest of nine MPs and the opening of 12 criminal investigations against incumbent or former ministers.

Kovesi pointed out, on unveiling the DNA 2014 report, that the investigations carried out by the prosecutors subordinate to her have targeted various areas, such as the illegal restoration of real estate property, the healthcare, the education, the public purchases, the corruption related to legislative process and the frauds involving European funds.

According to the Chief Prosecutor of DNA, last year saw a range of firsts since the DNA was set up, namely the highest number of recorded and settled cases, the highest number of indictments and sentences as well as the highest number of high-ranking officials that were probed into. More than 1.100 defendants were prosecuted last year and the number of the legal persons that were prosecuted doubled.

As regarding Iohannis’ critics, Finance minister Darius Valcov said that he is not satisfied either with the percentage of prejudices’ recoveries, yet he hopes that ANAF will fix the slippage in the shortest time.