February 22 (SeeNews) - Romania's anti-corruption agency DNA blocked 400.1 million euro ($454 million) worth of assets under its precautionary measures last year, up 139% over 2017, it said on Friday.
Even though 2018 was a tough year for DNA due to leadership and legislation changes, prosecutors carried on with investigations thoroughly, DNA said in an annual activity report.
DNA said it pressed charges against 556 suspects last year, compared to 1,000 in 2017. According to the institution, the decrease is due to new, higher quality standards imposed on the prosecutors' activity. Out of the total, 155 were tried and convicted definitively for high-profile corruption offences.
Last year, DNA sent to trial one government minister, one deputy prime minister, two members of parliament, four state secretaries and several mayors.
The activity report is being issued amid a crisis in the judicial system as the government on Tuesday approved an emergency decree which changes justice bills, sparking criticism from the EC, president Klaus Iohannis and opposition parties. Several district attorneys in the country are currently protesting, while others said they will halt activity for three days starting Monday over what they see as a threat to judicial independence.
Ex-DNA head Laura Codruta Kovesi was nominated earlier this month for the position of chief of the European Public Prosecutor's Office. She is currently being investigated by a special prosecuting unit created by justice minister Tudorel Toader, whose report led to her dismissal from DNA in July.
($ = 0.8817 euro)