Former PM of Romania Adrian Nastase sentenced by court to two years in jail

Adrian Nastase, prime minister from 2000 to 2004, has been sentenced to two years in prison for corruption but is expected to appeal the verdict.

Former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase on Monday was sentenced to two years in prison for siphoning-off state funds worth around €1.6 million to fund his 2004 election campaign.

The court’s decision can be appealed. The trial has lasted over three years and involved 900 witnesses and 48 court hearings.

Nastase was accused of having financed his election campaigns with funds collected for a symposium organized by a state institution for which businessmen had to pay a participation feee. The fees went to four companies controlled by members of Nastase’s entourage.

Nastase, 62, was prime minister from December 2000 to December 2004 and stood as the Social Democratic Party, PSD, candidate in the 2004 presidential election. He was defeated by the centre-right candidate, Traian Basescu.