Romania court convicts former terror prosecutor of graft

BUCHAREST, Romania – A Romanian court has convicted a former chief prosecutor of abuse of office after she intervened to help suspects in two cases.

The High Court for Cassation and Justice on Tuesday sentenced Alina Bica to four years in prison. Bica, the former chief prosecutor for the Romanian agency that investigates organized crime and terrorism, is thought to be living in Costa Rica and was sentenced in absentia.

Nicole Tender, whose husband is serving a 12-year sentence for defrauding a state company, said she gifted Bica a Rolex watch and a $2,000 purse. She testified that in exchange, Bica instructed prosecutors to ask for a suspended prison sentence.

In another case, Bica told a prosecutor to unfreeze the assets of an economy minister who was being probed for fraud.