The latest anti graft prosecutors' arrest targeted the chief of the Ploiesti customs, Cornel Costea but newspapers reveal his career track that lead him to this position and his unaccounted for wealth. In the same vein, one newspaper wonders why prosecutors did not raid the Constanta port customs since the President made it a top priority. Elsewhere n the news, a Romanian was sentenced to 14 years of jail for the murder of a Norwegian stewardess.
Most newspapers read on Friday about the latest arrest of anti graft prosecutors in the customs scandal. Romania libera reads that Ploiesti customs chief Cornel Costea, retained by prosecutors for bribe taking was denounced for requesting bribe.
Up to a month ago when raids started at customs Costea was sure he was protected but apparently, after the chief of national customs Radu Marginean was indicted, he panicked and tried to find protection among politicians who helped get to his position in 2010.
The newspaper reads that Costea was promoted in a few months as customs chief and wonders why Marginean appointed Costea and not others, more experienced from the system. Through the Ploiesti customs there are mainly vegetables and fruits or oil products passing by.
Experts told the newspaper that the public budget is annually prejudiced by 18 billion lei due to fiscal evasion with agricultural products.
In the same vein, Gandul reads about Costea's wealth and his unaccounted for wealth. A local weekly Altphel released a series of problems in the Ploiesti customs and according to the newspaper, Costea wanted to clarify some of the information in the press.
Costea was asked to clarify the costs of the party he organized for his birthday in the famous night club Bamboo. Costea's answer is more than clarifying: 15,000 euro
