Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors have asked President Klaus Iohannis to endorse a criminal investigation against the interior minister over allegations of favouring suspects in a wider case of embezzlement and abuse of power.
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Romania’s anti-corruption prosecutor has accused Toba of refusing to submit classified documents concerning unusual payments by his ministry’s in-house secret service, the DIPI.
The case, which went to court in May, centres on accusations that former interior minister Gabriel Oprea and DIPI officials defrauded the state of 410,000 Romanian lei (US$ 102,867). According to the prosecutors, the minister thus blocked DNA’s investigation against 24 DIPI employees, who have been charged with embezzlement, abuse of power, and forgery for using the department’s money for their own interests. They used the money to buy toys and games (doll houses, sand box, slide, dart games, bows and arrows, volley balls), a RON 12,000 treadmill, a RON 17,000 electric oven, and RON 13,000 worth of pens, plus uniforms, luxury books, and banquets.
Previously, Prime Minister Ciolos said it would be best for Interior Minister Toba to step down.
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“I have made a decision to step down to avoid involving the ministry in a scandal three months before legislative elections”, Toba said in a statement, while “firmly” denying the accusations against him. “(.) Obviously, given the circumstances, it would be best to him and the Government for him to leave”, said Ciolos about the situation of Minister Toba.
