The chief prosecutor of Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Laura Codruta Kovesi, has asked the Romanian President for approval to start the prosecution of former internal affairs minister Cristian David, DNA announced on Monday, November 10.

David, who served as internal affairs minister in Calin Popescu Tariceanu’s cabinet, between April 2007 and December 2008, is investigated by DNA for bribery and money laundering.

David allegedly asked for EUR 500,000 from a local businessman, in 2007, to help him reclaim ownership of a 15-hectare land in Buzau. He allegedly received the money in February 2008. He also tried to mask the origin of the money via fictitious real estate transactions.

Cristian David, 46, also served as minister delegate for Romanians worldwide, from December 2012 until March 2014. In February 2014, the DNA announced it was investigating him for false statements. The prosecutors found EUR 60,000 in David’s wealth statement which he couldn’t account for. He wrote in the statement that he got the money from his mother.

David has been a member of the National Liberal Party (PNL) since 1990. He’s married to Vanda Vlasov, fashion designer Ingrid Vlasov's twin sister. His father-in-law is lawyer Mihail Vlasov, the president of the Iasi Chamber of Commerce.

editor@romania-insider.com