Location Romania | ||
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The Microsoft licensing corruption scandal is an ongoing political scandal and criminal investigation in Romania, involving large bribes paid to Romanian government members in exchange for approving increases in license fees for Microsoft products.
Contents
Nine government ministers have been charged by the National Anticorruption Directorate, belonging to the Năstase, Tăriceanu and Boc Cabinets. The bribes were estimated at more than $50 million.
Apart from Microsoft, this scandal involved several major multinational corporations, including Fujitsu-Siemens, IBM, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, S&T and local software companies like SIVECO and Softwin.
Persons involved in scandal
According to Gheorghe Ștefan (a.k.a. "Pinalti"), more than 100 persons are involved in the corruption scandal, among them nine former ministers and prominent businessmen.
Sentences
On 24 March 2016, Dorin Cocoș was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for influence peddling and money laundering, and to an asset forfeiture of €3 million. Gabriel Sandu was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for bribery and money laundering, and to an asset forfeiture of over €2 million. Gheorghe Ștefan was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for influence peddling and to an asset forfeiture of €3 million. Dumitru Nicolae was convicted to 1 and a half years suspended sentence, €1 million forfeiture and 90 days community service. The sentences are not final and can be appealed.
On 3 October 2016, Dorin Cocoș was sentenced to 2 years 4 months imprisonment for influence peddling and money laundering, and to an asset forfeiture of €9 million. Gabriel Sandu was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for bribery and money laundering, and to an asset forfeiture of over €2 million. Gheorghe Ștefan was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for influence peddling and to an asset forfeiture of over €3 million. Nicolae Dumitru was convicted to 2 years 4 months imprisonment, $2,050,000 and €1 million forfeiture. These sentences are final.