February 28 (SeeNews) - The head of Romania's anti-graft body DNA, Laura Codruta Kovesi, said on Wednesday that the institution had blocked 198 million euro ($242 million) worth of assets under its precautionary measures in 2017.
In 2016, the institution blocked assets worth 667 million euro ($700.3 million) under precautionary measures.
"2017 was a tough year in the fight against corruption. The very fight against corruption has been questioned," Laura Condruta Kovesi said during the presentation of DNA's 2017 annual report broadcast by local TV station Digi 24.
"Although we find and prosecute more and more defendants for corruption offences, public budgets are still harmed by fraud. We are asking ourselves [...] if the efforts of the judiciary in the fight against corruption should be complemented by other measures."
The anti-corruption agency confiscated and recovered proceeds originating from corruption amounting to approximately 148 million euro through final settlements in court, according to the activity report published on the DNA website. This money goes straight into the Romanian budget.
DNA said it pressed charges against 1,000 suspects last year, compared to 1,271 in 2016. Out of the total, 713 were sent to trial and convicted definitively for high-profile corruption offences.
In 2017, DNA sent to trial three ministers, six lawmakers and a former parliament speaker in high-profile corruption cases.
The report comes in the wake of a proposal of justice minister Tudorel Toader to dismiss the DNA chief.
On Tuesday, Romania's Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) said it rejected the proposal.
On Thursday, Toader said that he is seeking the dismissal of Kovesi, sparking protests across the country. Toader said Kovesi had allegedly harmed the image of Romania abroad and accused her of being too authoritarian.
Romanian president Klaus Iohannis has the final say on the proposal to dismiss Kovesi. According to the law, he needed to wait for the consultative decision of the CSM.
Present at the launch event of the report, Iohannis once again reiterated his satisfaction with DNA's activity and his support for Kovesi.
On Sunday night, some 6,000 people held rallies on Sunday night in Bucharest and other Romanian cities to protest against the proposed dismissal of the DNA chief.
EU officials and anti-corruption institutions have praised DNA's activity in general and Kovesi's activity in particular on numerous occasions, stressing that her efforts are crucial for the country's fight against corruption.
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