BUCHAREST, Romania — Police in Romania have detained a former interior minister on charges of illegally receiving 185,000 euros ($203,000) from a businessman.

 

Gabriel Berca was detained on Thursday in the eastern city of Bacau and anti-corruption prosecutors have called for him to remain in custody. There was no immediate comment from him.

In a statement, prosecutors said Berca was suspected of receiving the money from 2010 to 2012 in exchange for promising a businessman he would use his influence in the government to get 5.6million lei ($1.4 million) in funds for construction work carried out by the businessman’s company.

Berca was interior minister in 2012 and a senator from 2008 to 2012 for the Democratic Liberal Party, now in opposition.

Romania has stepped up its anti-corruption fight in recent months.

Associated Press

23 July 2015