Former Romanian PM Adrain Nastase could be up for early release after the Jilava prison parole board approved the request. A court date was set for a hearing on Nastase's parole on February 12, but the former PM's lawyers have asked for the date to be brought forward.

According to Nastase's lawyer Ion Cazacu, the parole board took into account his good behavior, his activities in prison and the three books the former PM has published while behind bars.

After years of legal wrangling, former PM Adrain Nastase was given a definitive two year jail sentence by Romania Supreme Court back in June 2012. There was drama when police came to take him to prison, with Nastase being rushed to hospital after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Following his recovery, he was sent to the Jihava prison to serve his sentence.

The former PM was found guilty of having financed his election campaigns with funds collected for the symposium ‘Quality Trophy’, organized by the State Inspectorate for Quality in Construction in 2004. Participation fees for the symposium in 2004, totaling EUR 1.6 million, went to four companies, controlled by two members of Nastase’s entourage.

Adrian Nastase, a former leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), served as PM when the PSD were in power between 2000 and 2004. The trial lasted over three years and involved 900 witnesses and 48 court hearings.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com