Romania prosecutors formally indict Premier Ponta
Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta has been indicted over several counts of corruption, including tax evasion and money laundering.
The Romanian premier was indicted on Thursday by the country’s prosecutors, who said in a statement that Ponta will be tried by Romania’s top court. No date has been set for the trial yet.
Livia Saplacan, the spokeswoman for the country's anti-corruption agency, DNA, said the premier will not be arrested.
Ponta, who has repeatedly denied the accusations against him, said prosecutors were "manipulating public opinion" and disclosing incomplete information.
He has been under investigation over charges of fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, and has refused to resign as premier citing his duty “to millions of Romanians.”
The allegations against Ponta relate to his activities as lawyer before he became prime minister in 2012. Separately, prosecutors suspect he is guilty of becoming involved in a conflict of interest as premier. He denies any wrongdoing.
Commenting on the development, Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis, who had previously called on Ponta to resign, said, “In my view, the situation is more and more problematic for the prime minister, for the government and for the Social Democrat Party.”
The prosecutors said in the statement that four other people have been indicted over the case.
The probe against Ponta is the latest in a series of anti-corruption probes in recent months, which have led to the arrest or removal of several prominent Romanian officials.
Earlier in March, Romanian Finance Minister Darius Valcov stepped down after an investigation into his alleged corruption and abuse of power as a former mayor of the southern city of Slatina.
Romania, seen as one of the European Union’s most corrupt member states, has in recent years cracked down on corruption, prosecuting thousands of public servants.
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