Fraud Convict Nicolae Popa To Be Handed Over To Romanian Authorities Before Easter

04.08.2011 By Ioana Tudor

Romanian fraud convict Nicolae Popa will be turned over to Romanian authorities before Easter, after Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a decree to extradite him.

Romanian fraud convict Nicolae Popa will be turned over to Romanian authorities before Easter, after Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a decree to extradite him.

Romania's Embassy to Jakarta was informed that the decree extraditing Popa was signed and the institution notified Romanian authorities, Foreign Affairs Ministry official Doris Mircea said Thursday.

People close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Wednesday the Indonesian president signed the decree extraditing Popa and he is to be turned over to Romanian authorities within 30 days.

The Indonesian Embassy in Bucharest told MEDIAFAX on March 9 the Indonesian Ministry of Justice had finalized Popa's extradition file and the papers were pending the head of state's signature before Popa could be turned over to Romanian authorities.

Romania's Justice Ministry said in December 2010 an Indonesian court had allowed Popa's extradition.

In February 2010, Indonesia' Justice Minister Patrialis Akbar authorized Popa's extradition and the procedure received approval from the Indonesian president in August, according to the online edition of the Jakarta Globe.

Because Romania and Indonesia do not have an extradition treaty, Romania had to wait until an Indonesian court ruled over the issue before deporting Popa.

Popa, who fled Romania to escape a 15-year prison sentence in May 2000 for his part in defrauding 300,000 people in a massive Ponzi scheme, was arrested in December 2009 in Jakarta.