Gabriel Sandu

Romania's high court of cassation and justice on Thursday jailed the former telecommunications minister, Gabriel Sandu, for two years for money laundering, abuse of office and bribery involving the lease of Microsoft IT licenses for schools.

Apart from former Communications Minister Gabriel Sandu and businessman Dorin Cocos, the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) too took advantage of the amounts assigned by the Ministry of Communications for Microsoft software licenses, with PDL benefiting from the payment of election materials, argue the anti-corruption prosecutors in the report where they request Elena Udrea's remand in custody.

The lower Deputies' Chamber at a plenary sitting on Monday passed a 153 to 110 vote to approve the request made by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) to start the criminal prosecution of independent deputy Valerian Vreme, Chamber Secretary Ion Marcel Ciolacu announced.

The vote was secret, with Vreme being the only deputy to address the debates.

Nine former Romanian ministers face an investigation for corruption and money laundering in a case involving the lease of Microsoft IT licenses for schools.