Romania's Top Prosecutor Quits in Motorcade Row

Romanian General Prosecutor Tiberiu Nitu resigned on Tuesday, one week after anti-graft investigators said he made illegal use of official motorcades.

President Klaus Iohannis has accepted his resignation and is to make a new nomination.

"I am resigning in a gesture of responsibility and honour, as I also want to protect the reputation of the prosecutor's office," Nitu said, denying that he used police outriders in a manner forbidden by law.

He reached the decision to quit after his name appeared in an investigation carried out by the National Anticorruption Directorate, DNA, into former deputy prime minister, Gabriel Oprea.

Prosecutors said Oprea, who was also interior minister, used motorcades roughly five times on average a day from January 2014 through to November 2015, for official business, private visits, party meetings and even for travelling to restaurants.

His use of motorcades came to light in October, when a police officer was fatally injured while riding over a pothole while riding with Oprea's motorcade. For several days, the police and the Interior Ministry withheld information about the deadly accident.

Oprea said he was unaware that the policeman had been killed while accompanying his motorcade and insisted that he had not broken any law.

Parliament is to decide on Wednesday on lifting Oprea's immunity, which would allow criminal proceedings to be taken against him.  

By law, the President, Prime Minister and the two speakers of parliament are entitled to a police escort in traffic, while other senior officials are allowed escorts in special situations.

Romania is still considered one of the most corrupt states in the European Union and has made only limited...