Romania’s anti-corruption prosecutors have charged the country’s highest-ranking military officer over alleged complicity in a case linked to appointments within the armed forces.
Chief of Defense Staff General Gheorghita Vlad is accused of enabling a subordinate officer to file a request, which went beyond his legal authority, for additional state-funded university positions, according to a statement from the a statement on the anti-corruption directorate’s website.
GHeorghita “categorically” denied the accusations, calling the timing “odd”,”in an especially sensitive and complex context at a national level.”
Earlier, Georghiță appeared for questioning at the military division of the anti-corruption authority, accompanied by a lawyer and declined to answer questions from journalists.
The Chief of Defense is accused using his authority to enable 20 students who were on tuition-paying places at the National University of Physical Education and Sport in Bucharest to be transferred to state-funded positions through an increase in the number of government-funded spots.
Three of those students were expected to become officers at the defense ministry.
As a result of the request, 20 candidates who had originally been admitted to tuition-paying places were transferred to government-funded positions.
Anti-corruption prosecutors argue that the candidates obtained an undue advantage.
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