BUCHAREST: Romania Prime Minister Victor Ponta has been charged with three counts of corruption in a long-running investigation.
Ponta became the highest-ranking official to be swept up in a major drive by the DNA anti-corruption agency, which has seen dozens of former politicians and judges convicted over the past several years in one of Europe’s poorest and graft-plagued countries.
Ponta was charged with fraud, tax evasion and money laundering dating back to 2007-2011, before he became prime minister in 2012, the DNA said on Monday, adding that some of his assets have been frozen pending the outcome of the case.
He faces charges of fraud, tax evasion and money laundering dating back to when he was a lawyer before he became prime minister in 2012, the country’s anti-corruption agency said.
Ponta said on Sunday he was stepping down as head of the Social Democrat party while he fought the corruption allegations.
