Romania to Change Law On Jailbirds' Books

A group of 15 Romanian senators has initiated a bill aimed at amending the controversial law that allows prisoners who publish books to have their jail terms cut.

"Many politicians, businessmen and ex-football players only discovered their literary skills after they were jailed for corruption and have benefited from loopholes in the law ... this must end," MP Valeriu Todirascu said.

Under Romanian regulations, every two days that inmates spend on working on scientific works or patented inventions reduces their detention by three days.

Many inmates have taken advantage of the law and got to work on books. Data released by the National Prison Administration says that 188 inmates published over 400 books between 2013 and 2015.

Businessman and politician Dan Voiculescu is one of the most prolific prison writers, publishing ten books on various economic topics since being incarcerated in August 2014.

He is serving a 10-year sentence for involvement in the fraudulent sale of a state institution and for money laundering but his books may write 300 days off his jail time.

Media mogul Dan Diaconescu, who was jailed last year for five-and-a-half years for blackmail, has already written five books about journalism.

The former investment company manager, Dinel Staicu, who has been jailed for fraud, has written ten books, most of them covering fiscal issues.

Football experts make up another important group of prison writer. Agents, former footballers and former managers convicted for tax evasion related to illegal transfers have all been busy writing books about football.

Some big names convicted for corruption have been released early after writing books. Businessman George Copos had about 200...