Independent Senator Serban Mihailescu, also known as Micky Spaga (Micky Bribe) for his alleged involvement in various corruption cases while serving as a minister in Adrian Nastase’s cabinet, visited the National Anti-Corruption Department yesterday. Last week, the MP went to DNA to be presented evidence gathered against him on charges of receiving illegal gratuities and violation of weapons and ammunition regulations. Next procedural steps are the completion of the case by prosecutors and referral to court or discharge of the suspect.

On January 22, Mihailescu was informed of charges against him in a hunting rifle case. On June 10, 2009, the Senate allowed the Prosecutor General’s Office to prosecute Mihailescu, who was a PSD member at the time. The decision was made in his absence. Seventy-seven of the 108 attending senators were in favour and 29 opposed. Two votes were cancelled. The former Social-democrat is charged by DNA with the receipt of illegal gratuities and violation of weapons and ammunition regulations. Prosecutors say that, while he was co-ordinating minister of government’s Secretariat General, Mihailescu was given by his personal adviser, Fanel Pavalache, a set of hunting rifles which he kept in his possession from April to October 2002, despite not holding the legally-required permit.