Former Romanian IT&C minister Sorin Pantis was charged with manipulation of the Stock Exchange with Rompetrol shares on Friday.

He expressed surprise as he had been previously cited as witness in this case.

Following talks with the prosecutors, Pantis said he did not yet clearly know what were the accusations he had been brought but the Rompetrol file showed no connection to fraud.

Sorin Pantis, currently general manager of a company within Grivco group, is under investigation for assisting Camelia Voiculescu, daughter of the Conservative Party's leader, in purchasing a Rompetrol shares package.

In the Rompetrol case, the prosecutors heard journalist Sorin Rosca Stanescu, a high equities official, Paul Miclaus, prime minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, and Magyar Union senator Verestoy Attila.