Iulian Hertanu, Prime Minister Victor Ponta's brother-in-law, on Tuesday evening was taken into custody by the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) prosecutors, alongside two other businessmen.
All three of them were waiting 17 hours at the DNA headquarters in Ploiesti before they were handcuffed and placed in preventive detention with the Police County Inspectorate (IPJ) Prahova.
The DNA Ploiesti prosecutors are currently investigating into a case of corruption and defrauding of European funds.
According to some sources from the judiciary, the corruption deeds in question are related to the defrauding of over 7-million lei from European funds and tax evasion worth 2.5 million. The facts have supposedly been committed over 2011-2015.
Involved in the same case and currently facing judicial review are also deputies Sebastian Ghita and Vlad Cosma and the President of the Prahova County Council, Mircea Cosma. Moreover, County counselor Mihail Coman, now working as an adviser for SC Hidro Prahova company, was also taken into custody.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Tuesday, on Twitter, that he has no knowledge of the investigations regarding his brother-in-law and does not wish to comment upon them.
"I do not know and it would be wrong for me to comment on the investigations done by prosecutors regarding my brother-in-law. The law should be equal for all", said Ponta on Twitter.