A former customs official Marius Ungureanu, fomer Giurgiu customs chief declared on Monday that he offered Vasile Marica, budgetaries union leader, bribes from 1997 to 2002 about 2,200 to 2,500 dollars/month. Marica blackmailed all customs directors, irrespective of their political colour and he knew everything that went on in the customs, Ungureanu said.

He said that he denounced himself for offering bribe in 2003 but nothing happened and expressed his hope that things improve this time. He confessed that he would take the money monthly to Marica to Bucharest along with several others. He said others were giving him even 10,000 dollars – the case of Alin Birca who was promoted as chief of the Constanta customs. People are afraid to talk because of the consequences, Ungureanu said.