Ex-Senator Catalin Voicu was sentenced by the Supreme Court to seven years in prison in his corruption case.

The Court also hardened punishments in the case of ex-judge Florin Costiniu, extending his suspended sentence from three to four years, and nine-year probation.

Businessman Marius Locic went with the initial four-year prison sentence handed down by a panel of three judges from the High Court in June 2012.

In the case of businessman Costel Casuneanu, the Court maintained his four-year suspended sentence, but increased the probation period to nine years.

The decision of the panel of five judges at the High Court is final, therefore Catalin Voicu and Marius Locic will be incarcerated.

Catalin Voicu was accused by the Prosecution that, from July to September 2009, 'using his position as a senator', received from Costel Casuneanu a total of RON 250,000 (the equivalent of EUR 60,000) in two instalments and EUR 200,000, promising to convince High Court judges to pass a favourable judgement in the case of the company where the businessman was a partner.

Investigators also accused Voicu that, in August 2009, he had claimed and received from Locic RON 119,000 in exchange for the promise to intervene with the Police to obtain a favourable decision in a case where he was under investigation for criminal offences.

On the last court date, Catalin Voicu was not present, his lawyers telling the Court their client had been admitted to hospital Monday morning with the suspicion of colon cancer.

The Defence asked for a postponement of proceedings so that Voicu could give one last deposition in his case, but the President of the panel, Livia Stanciu, refused.

The judge actually answered the lawyers that Floreasca Hospital spokesman Dr. Bogdan Oprita had told the press Monday at 12:00 that Voicu was not hospitalised there.

A prosecutor from the National Anti-Corruption Department (DNA) asked the High Court judges to increase the sentences in the case of ex-Senator Catalin Voicu from five to nine years.

DNA asked the Court for harsher sentences for the other co-defenders as well.

Catalin Voicu was, however, admitted to the Floreasca Hospital on Monday.

'There has been a lot of debate on the admission to hospital of ex-Senator Catalin Voicu.

Monday morning, he presented to the emergency hospital with rectal bleeding and secondary anaemia.

The patient also presents associated conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity and currently undergoes complex medical investigations', Dr. Mircea Beuran, the head of Surgery Clinic 3 from Floreasca Hospital said.

Initially, the hospital spokesman, Dr. Oprita, had said Voicu was not hospitalised there. Hospital Manager Radu Macovei however explained there had been a name confusion and that the staff had tried to retrieve from the records the name Madalin Voicu rather than Catalin Voicu.

Monday night, Catalin Voicu was taken by an ambulance from Floreasca Hospital and transported to Rahova Prison Hospital and warrant for his incarceration was executed.

The patient was carried out of the hospital on a stretcher, with an oxygen mask on his face, accompanied by medics to the ambulance.

Nine O'Clock            23/04/2013