Former Labor Minister Paul Pacuraru Acquitted In Corruption Trial

05.03.2011 ZF English

Romanian former labor minister, liberal Paul Pacuraru, and former liberal MP Dan Ilie Morega have been acquitted by the criminal section of the High Court of Justice in a corruption trial.

The ruling may be appealed before the five-judge panel of the Supreme Court.

Paul Pacuraru, who was labor minister between April 3, 2007 and September 23, 2008, and Morega, member of the General Assembly of Shareholders in thermal power producers Rovinari and Turceni, were indicted on corruption charges in December 2008.

Prosecutors said Morega had promised Pacuraru to help his son win public training contracts from state-owned Oltenia National Coal Company (SNLO) and thermal power producers Turceni and Rovinari.

Pacuraru, in exchange, was to appoint a certain person, indicated by Morega, in the position of chief-inspector at the Gorj county Labor Inspectorate.

On June 15, 2007, Pacuraru appointed the person indicated by Morega in the position of interim chief-inspector at the Gorj Labor Inspectorate.