Police arrested Romanian MP Mihail Boldea earlier this week, when he returned to Romania after earlier fleeing to Kenya to escape being caught. Boldea is alleged to be involved in organized crime and real estate fraud and could be charged with serious offences, including money laundering and human trafficking.

He said his trip to Kenya was long before planned and that he wanted to go on his planned holiday before dealing with the local authorities. Police carried out raids and made a number of arrests, but had to wait for Boldea’s parliamentary immunity to be lifted. The MP took the chance to leave the country on March 17, three days before his immunity was lifted.

His lawyer said that Boldea had simply been on holiday, but, according to the Mediafax newswire, he had been checking out which African states did not have extradition treaties with Romania and had been driven to Turkey in the first leg of his bid to escape justice.

Boldea claims innocence and said he returned to Romania willingly to face justice.  Upon return, a 30-day arrest warrant was awaiting him, and he is now in police custody in Galati, his home county.

editor@romania-insider.com