Romania’s anticorruption prosecutors have sent former interior minister Gabriel Oprea to court on charges of abuse of office for ordering the purchase of a EUR 90,000 Audi limousine by a service under his authority.

Oprea used the limousine himself while he was in office. The service’s former director was also indicted in this case for complicity to abuse of office.

The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) has also been investigating Oprea for abuse of office in a separate case related to the motorcade use for the former minister’s daily travel. The investigation started after a motorcycle policeman in Oprea’s motorcade died in Bucharest, in October last year, as he was escorting the former minister on a dark rainy night.

Oprea resigned from the Government in November, shortly after Prime Minister Victor Ponta also announced his resignation.

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editor@romania-insider.com