The sweeping wave of inquiries initiated by the National Anti-Corruption Department (DNA) may soon include one against ex-President Ion Iliescu, who led Romania for ten of its 16 years of post-Communist history, according to radio reports.
The Department has started preparations for a criminal investigation on Iliescu for his role in a case related to the replacement of revolutionary licenses. These are documents that guarantee special rights for people who have or claim to have participated in the 1989 revolution that brought down ex-dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
The move comes after two organizations of revolutionaries filed a criminal complaint against him for abuse in office against public interests and for conflict of interests.
Iliescu is also accused of procuring benefits of various kinds for himself and cronies.
Dorin Maries, head of one revolutionary organizations, told the Mix FM radio stations today that "in the last days of his last term, Mr. Iliescu issued a decree to proclaim himself a revolutionary. This decree brings certain advantages to him and all the cronies that served him in the last 16 years".
