Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) asked President Klaus Iohannis to approve the prosecution of former ministers Dan Nica, Alexandru Athanasiu, and Adriana Ticau for abuse of office in the Microsoft IT licenses case.

The request came just days after DNA asked the Chamber of Deputies to approve the prosecution of former Government general secretary Eugen Bejinariu in the same case.

Dan Nica was communications minister between 2000 and July 2004. Adriana Ticau was a state secretary in same ministry between 2003 and June 2004, and communications minister between July and December 2004. Alexandru Athanasiu was education minister between 2003 and 2004.

According to DNA, the three ministers initiated and supported the government decisions projects for concluding and prolonging the contract between the Romanian Government and Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH for acquiring Microsoft licenses. The state recorded damages of USD 67 million from overpaying for the licenses while Fujitsu Siemens Computers made undue profits.

Claudiu Florica, the former general manager of Fujitsu Siemens Computers Romania, and two former Microsoft Romania general managers, Silviu Hotaran and Ovidiu Artopolescu, are also being prosecuted under judicial control in this case.

Former Microsoft Romania GMs, state officials prosecuted in corruption case

editor@romania-insider.com