Deputy Elena Udrea was placed under criminal investigation by the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) on Thursday for committing the crime of money laundering (in the form of gaining/using goods with knowledge they result from criminal activity) and submitting false assets statements, in the Microsoft case.
Elena Udrea, who was one of Romania's most influential politicians in recent years, was brought with a mandate to the DNA headquarters, where the prosecutors informed her of the charges.
Anti-corruption prosecutors questioned Elena Udrea on Thursday on suspicion that she failed to declare money she received in 2010 from her then-husband, as she is legally required to do as a lawmaker. She is banned from leaving Bucharest during the probe.
Udrea, who has previously denied wrongdoing in her finances, declined comment after more than four hours of questioning, telling reporters to address her former husband, Dorin Cocos, who was arrested in October on charges of taking a bribe of 9 million euros ($10.1 million).
A dozen people gathered outside the anti-corruption office yelling "Shame on you!" as she left the building.
A former tourism minister, Udrea, 41, gained notoriety because of her close relationship with Traian Basescu, president from 2004 to 2014.
Basescu supported Udrea's bid to run for president in November's elections, where she finished fourth. He indicated he would join her Popular Movement Party once he left office, but eventually did not.