Romanian Anticorruption Prosecutors Seize Ex Agric Min Apartment

"The law allows that, if there is bribery which cannot be located physically, authorities can make sure that the money taken by someone as bribe can be recovered and confiscated. Here, there are the EUR15,000 in the envelope received from former minister Muresan, money coming from businessman Gheorghe Ciorba. If the court decides that Remes took EUR15,000 as bribe, in the envelope given by Ciorba, through Muresan, at the coffee shop in Bucharest, then Remes’ apartment will be put up for sale, and EUR15,000 from the price obtained will be confiscated by the state," said the cited sources.

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors hold footage showing agriculture minister Decebal Traian Remes receiving an envelope from former agriculture minister Ioan Avram Muresan. Prosecutors also have a video recording of Muresan who, in a later discussion with businessman Gheorghe Ciorba, admits that the envelope contained EUR15,000.

In another video recording, Muresan talks to denouncer Ciorba in a room. In the beginning of the conversation, Ciorba complains to Muresan that his car is broken, to mislead potential eavesdroppers into thinking that is why he is so nervous. They both agree to shut down their mobile phones, in order to avoid tapping. Muresan insists for a few minutes over a hard-line phone in the room, which he first asks to be unplugged and then removed from the room altogether. The discussion is recent and takes place after Muresan has found out he is eyed by anticorruption prosecutors.

In another video recording, previous to the other two, Muresan goes with Ciorba to Remes’ house, where they drop off several cases filled with products. Muresan himself – of whom his family said suffers from diabetes – earnestly carries several cases onto the terrace of Remes’ home, and at some point he even runs a bit to help speed up unloading the “gift”. Before reaching Remes’ house, Muresan talks to the minister’s wife, whom he tells he has something to bring and asks her to tell the maid to let him in.