Country Watch
in its efforts to curb corruption, is now a force to be reckoned with. Political analyst Imtiaz Gul ob- served that “[t]he court seems fixated on these cases being reopened, so you get the sense they’re not going to accept the government’s ar- guments on immunity for the president and that’s why they’re showing restraint (now).” Gul added, that “[i]f the courts refuse to give him [Zardari] im- munity, that means aggravating a political crisis.” The entirety of this case stems from a confronta- tion between the Supreme Court and Pakistan’s political leaders and a slew of old corruption cases that were dismissed after an immunity law was passed in 2009 that granted the president and oth- er top ranking officials immunity from prosecution. These contempt charges against Gilani are only the second time that Pakistan’s highest court has initiated contempt proceedings against an active prime minister and the results could mean plung- ing Pakistan’s already weak government deeper in to a crisis that could force a call for early elections within months.
*Submitted by Mollie Dapolito
charged for illegally raising public funds for his un- successful campaign for the presidency, using his political influence and authority in his own inter- est.
According to prosecutors, the case refers to a symposium entitled “the trophy of the quality in construction”. In reality, the conference repre- sented an event organized by a state construction agency to mask the collection of money to finance the presidential campaign. In particular, company and state agencies were forced to pay fees to take part to the event ant to donate money later used to run for the Presidency and to get various goods, financing and other illegal benefits.
This is not the first corruption case involving Adrian Nastase. Others accusations are pending regard- ing actions of the senior politician. In a separate trial during 2011, the Romanian National Anticor- ruption Department indicted Nastase for bribing Ioan Melinescu, the former head of Romania’s anti-money laundering agency, with the sum of $400,000 to delete documents related to his wife’s bank account.
Former Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase Sentenced for Corruption
On January 30, 2012, the High Court of Cassation and Justice of Romania condemned former Roma- nian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase to two years in prison for corruption charges.
Adrian Nastase, who held the office of Romanian Prime Minister from 2000 - 2004, denied any wrongdoing and he complains that he is a victim of political harassment by the centre-right Justice and Truth Alliance led by his rival, the current Ro- manian president, Traian Basescu.
Nastase announced that he will appeal the non- irrevocable penalty and promised that he will take the case in front of the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.
Nastase’s trial started in 2009, when he was
The former Prime Minister claims that the entire process had political motivations. “Everything started during the electoral campaign in 2004. The winner is now taking revenge on the loser,” Nastase said.
Although the judgment is relative lenient,(four oth- er public officials indicted in the same case got six year stretches), and Nastase might not even serve his jail term if an appeal is granted, the sentencing does remove him from being a serious challenger inside the Social Democratic Party. Unless he wins this appeal, he will be prohibited to hold public of- fice, running a political party or serve as president for four years.
The verdict follows several weeks of nationwide Romanians demonstrations against the govern- ment and the government’s measures regarding perceived corruption among politicians. Nastase’s sentencing, which comes right before the Europe-
ILSA Quarterly » volume 20 » issue 4 » May 2012
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