Baneasa graft case claims secret service boss

Two top officials in the Ministry of Interior were roused in the middle of the night by the National Anti-corruption Department (DNA) for questioning in relation to a corruption case surrounding the 221-hectare Baneasa Investments project in north Bucharest.

April 2009 - From the Print Edition

Cornel Serban, director of the intelligence division of the ministry (DGIPI), and Petre Pitcovici, chief of the Operations Division of the General Anti-corruption Department (DGA) of the Ministry were taken from their homes under suspicion of covering-up a multi-million Euro property scam.
The DGIPI chief had been appointed only ten days before his temporary detention. After being questioned by prosecutors, he resigned from office.
In 2000 businessman Gabriel Popoviciu began a partnership with Bucharest University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine to create the office, residential and retail park Baneasa Investments, the site of mall Baneasa Shopping City and Romania’s first Ikea.
Popoviciu is alleged to have bought the land for 82,000 Euro from the University, when its actual value was 336 million Euro, according to prosecutors quoted in Evenimentul Zilei.
In 2008, one prosecutor in the National Anti-corruption Department investigating Popoviciu and the deal was asked to drop the case by Serban and Pitcovici in return for a large amount of money and a position in the Ministry of Interior. Following this, Serban is alleged to have received suspicious financial benefits from businessman Popoviciu.
Serban is charged with using secret information for personal purposes and giving access to sensitive information to unauthorised persons. Pitcovici is accused of giving favours to Serban. Alongside the officials, the rector of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Ioan Alecu, and businessman Gabriel Popoviciu also face charges.