PM Victor Ponta to be heard on March 11 in 'Referendum' criminal case

The High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ, the Supreme Court of Romania - editor's note) has set for March 11 the following date of hearings in the 'Referendum' criminal case, when it decided to hear the witnesses proposed by the defence attorney, among whom Prime minister Victor Ponta.

Photo credit: (c) Sorina PAVEL / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

The ICCJ has heard on Friday the former Economy minister Constantin Nita, mayor of Bucharest district 3 Robert Negoita and other five witnesses proposed by lawyer Marian Nazat, with the rest of the witnesses on the list minister Liviu Dragnea's lawyer has submitted to the criminal file to be heard on March 11.

Liviu Dragnea was prosecuted by the anti-corruption prosecutors (DNA) on October 7, 2013 for using influence or authority by a person who holds a leadership position in a political party with the goal of obtaining undue benefits for one's own or others.

According to the DNA, in his capacity as secretary general of the Social Democratic Party (PSD, major at rule), Liviu Dragnea used, on the occasion of the referendum organized on July 29, 2012, his influence and authority in the said party for getting some non-property, undue electoral benefits for the political alliance the party represented by the defendant was part of, namely for accomplishing participation quorum with the help of the votes obtained in other than legal conditions. AGERPRES