Romania’s suspended Defense minister Teodor Atanasiu learned on Thursday that prosecutors failed to find any element to support criminal inquiries on several charges against him. Atanasiu, who was brought to court by a presidential official and a parliamentarian over abuse of office charges recently, is yet to hear the preliminary “no crime verdict” officially.
Once he does hear it within days, he must also hear a further verdict in his case from a higher-ranked prosecutor, according to procedures.
Atanasiu was accused with abuse in office in a scandal related to his Liberal Party move this summer to call for the withdrawal of Romanian troops from Iraq.
President Traian Basescu is waiting for the final verdict in this case before he decides to revoke his decision to suspend minister Atanasiu pending the hearings period. If so, the minister will be re-appointed.
