The shot received by Mircea Geoană. His brother-in-law, Mircea Ionuț Costea, was definitively sentenced to six years in prison for the crime of bribery, in the case of the rehabilitation of the Bucharest-Constanța railway, according to a decision taken by the magistrates of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ). The NATO official reacted publicly after learning the verdict.
Mircea Ionuț Costea, sentenced to prison in the case of the rehabilitation of the Bucharest-Constanța railway
The ICCJ magistrates ordered, at the end of last week, Friday, May 26, the termination of the criminal trial for the crime of influence peddling in the case of Mircea Geoană’s brother-in-law, as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations. Mircea Ionuț Costea was, however, sentenced to six years in prison for taking bribes, the decision being final.
Mircea Ionuț Costea was the vice-president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as the director of EximBank. In the relevant case, the supreme court also convicted the former Minister of Finance Sebastian Vlădescu.
After the pronouncement of the final decision of the ICCJ in the case of the rehabilitation of the Bucharest-Constanța railway, the brother-in-law of Mircea Geoană was placed under general investigation. Mircea Ionuț Costea did not surrender to the police and could not be found at home either. Sources claim in the public space that the defendant would have fled the country.
“Against the person in question, the Bucharest Court issued on 26.05.2023 a warrant for the execution of the prison sentence, being sentenced to 6 years in prison for committing the crime of bribery in the form of complicity”, it is stated on the website of the Romanian Police , under the heading “Followed persons”.
The shot received by Mircea Geoană. NATO official’s reaction: “We are responsible”
It was a big blow for Mircea Geoană, who most likely did not expect such a verdict from the ICCJ in the case of the rehabilitation of the Bucharest-Constanța railway. The Deputy Secretary General of NATO reacted, after the conviction of his brother-in-law, explaining that court decisions must be respected, regardless of the situation.
Mircea Geoană also conveyed that both he and his life partner are and will be with their grandchildren in these difficult moments, offering them the support they need.
“Even in complicated moments, democratic values must prevail. Without exception, court decisions must be respected and carried out. Each of us is responsible for the decisions made. Mihaela and I will continue to be with our grandchildren and offer them the support they need in these difficult moments,” the NATO official said.
The ICCJ discounted the resulting sentence of seven years in prison, in the case of Mircea Ionuț Costea, in the following sentences: six years in prison for the crime of influence peddling, seven years in prison for the crime of complicity in bribery. The amount of punishment for the crime of complicity in bribery was reduced from seven to six years in prison.
