A Romanian citizen chased not only nationally, but also internationally, Mihai Necolaiciuc was arrested on Wednesday by the U.S. authorities. Romania submitted the extradition papers in early 2008, but the American authorities decided to expel the Romanian. The reason? Romanian authorities failed to send valid extradition papers. The man accused by the Romanian National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) in a 27 million euros fraud case might escape Romanian authorities.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents caught Mihai Necoliaciuc, a Romanian citizen chased nationally and internationally, on Wednesday, June 17. His presence in the States was illegal, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson Nicole A. Navas told HotNews.ro. "He risks being expelled from the USA and will get his chance to defend his case in front of the immigration judge.
Expulsion is an administrative measure. Extradition has a penal character. In case the immigration judge decides to expel the Romanian ex-National Railways (CFR) chief, he could flee to Mexico, for example, a country that did not seal any extradition agreement with Romania so far. Nicole A. Navas did not tell HotNews.ro whether the Romanian will be allowed to choose the country where he will be expelled. Necolaiciuc is currently detained.
Romanian authorities tried to get hold of him, but failed to send valid extradition papers. U.S. officials said that the documents could not be considered legal. Romanian Ministry of Justice shows that "Romanian authorities were encouraged to send, via diplomatic channels, the request of arrest for extradition purposes plus the extradition request to the American authorities".
But why did the American authorities encouraged Romania to do so, if the Romanian state already submitted the official documents in February, 2008? Unofficial Amrican sources say extradition cannot be completed since the documents Romania sent are invalid. And this would not be the first case when Romania fails to get its hand on internationally chased criminals due to invalid procedures. In Necolaiciuc's case, Romania cancelled his penal pursuit both in 2006 and 2007 because of procedural errors.
Mihai Necolaiciuc has been under international pursuit since October 26, 2006, Romanian news agency Mediafax informs. He is accused of economic fraud he committed during 2000-2003, when he was head of Romania's National Railways. He is said to having illegally spent over 1,700 billions former lei without the consent of the Shareholders General Council. DNA also accuses ex-Transport minister Traian Panait in the same dossier: according to DNA, Panait and Mihai Necolaiciuc committed a 27 million euros fraud. The dossier features other 29 persons, some of them ex CFR executive representatives.
