July 29 (SeeNews) - Romania's central bank deputy governor Bogdan Olteanu on Friday was detained for 24 hours by the country's anti-graft body DNA in a corruption investigation related to a period when he did not work for the monetary authority.
According to DNA, during July-November 2008, Olteanu, as president of the Chamber of Deputies, asked and received 1 million euro ($1.1 million) from a businessman, in addition to electoral support consisting of marketing and consultancy services, in return for lobbying for a person's appointment as chief of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve in eastern Romania.
"The money was remitted by the businessman, through an intermediary, at the headquarters of a political party. Subsequently, as a result of efforts made by the defendant Bogdan Olteanu, that person was appointed on September 18, 2008 the governor of the Danube Delta," DNA said in a press release.
DNA will ask the High Court of Cassation and Justice for a 30-day preventive detention of Olteanu.
Commenting on the event in an official statement, the central bank, BNR stressed that the accusations refer to alleged corruption crimes targeting Olteanu's activity exercised before he was appointed deputy governor of the central bank.
"The institution's activity takes place normally and the deputy governor's duties will be taken according to internal procedures in force by other members of executive management," BNR noted.
Olteanu was president of the Chamber of Deputies between 2006 and 2008 and a member of the National Liberal Party, PNL since 1991.
In 2009, Olteanu stepped down from his position at the Chamber of Deputies, and gave up PNL membership to pursue the post as BNR deputy governor.
($=0.9015 euro)