Albița Customs Chief investigated without being arrested

The Bucharest Court of Appeal ruled the provisional detention of seven other officers at Albița customs, whose detention order expired on Tuesday.

Moreover, the court decided that the head of Albița customs, Daniel Horban, and several police officers should be investigated without being detained, but forbidden to leave the country.

Overall, in the corruption case at Albița customs provisional arrest warrants were issued for 32 out of 40 border officers detained for taking bribes and supporting a criminal organization.

Decisions are not final and may be appealed to the Supreme Court.

The National Authority Directorate prosecutors accused them of having demanded and received sums of money as bribes to overlook crimes or irregularities committed at Romania’s crossing border point between November 2010 and January 2011.

They add up to the 59 policemen and customs officers detained on remand in the case of Siret border crossing point and 92 at Moravița and Naidăş.

114 persons, out of which 87 are customs officers, work at Albița border crossing point.

The National Customs Authority chief was indicted by the National Authority Directorate prosecutors for taking bribe in the Halmeu customs file.

Translated by: Andreea Negrea

MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University.