Former Romanian President Traian Basescu’s nephew, Dragos Basescu, faces criminal charges. The anticorruption prosecutors are currently investigating him in an influence-peddling case somewhat similar to that in which his father, Mircea Basescu, the former President’s brother, was arrested one year ago.

The prosecutors brought in Dragos Basescu for questioning at the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) headquarters, on Wednesday, June 17. They suspect the young Basescu of asking a local businessman to pay him EUR 1 million for his help with a criminal case, according to Mediafax.

The prosecutors found that Dragos Basescu and an accomplice have asked businessman Sandu Staicu for money in exchange for intervening with the prosecutor that was handling Staicu’s case for a favorable decision. Sandu Staicu was held in March 2014 by the anti-organized crime prosecutors for economic crimes. He was released after two days.

After his release, Sandu Staicu allegedly went to see Dragos Basescu at a famous sports club in Bucharest. The two met at the sauna. Dragos Basescu apparently asked Staicu to pay him EUR 500,000 to help him dodge preventive arrest and another EUR 500,000 to get him a favorable sentence in the case. When the businessman said that he didn’t have that kind of money, Basescu suggested that he paid in installments over a two-year period, according to judicial sources quoted by Mediafax.

Sandu Staicu denounced Dragos Basescu and Basescu’s accomplice confirmed the allegations, according to the same sources.

Romanian President’s brother arrested for 24 hours in EUR 0.25 mln influence trading case

Romanian President’s brother indicted for influence peddling

Comment: The Romanian President’s brother and the gypsy underworld

editor@romania-Insider.com