The head of the customs office in Romanian city of Ploiesti, Cornel Costea, has been caught in the act by National Anti-corruption Department (DNA) while receiving 10,000 lei as a bribe through an intermediary, DNA announced in a press release on Friday. The bribe was paid by the owner of several firms importing goods from Turkey.
According to DNA, during the period of November/December 2010-January 2011 Cornel Costea claimed various amounts of money from a denouncer, the owner of several trade firms, who paid him some 40-50,000 euro through an intermediary to dodge truck controls at Ploiesti customs. After he received the money, the suspect claimed 20,000 more, so the businessman decided to denounce him. On February 24, 2011, the suspect allegedly received 10,000 lei through an intermediary and was caught in the act by anti-graft prosecutors.
Cornel Costea is accused of repeated bribe taking and the Bucharest Tribunal decided his arrest for 29 days.
