BUCHAREST: The deputy governor of Romania's central bank has been taken into custody over allegations of bribery and influence peddling as part of a wider anti-corruption probe, officials said on Friday.
Bogdan Olteanu, detained late Thursday, is accused of accepting one million euros ($1.1 million) in 2008 when he was parliamentary speaker, in exchange for the nomination of a reporter to an important government role.
Investigators say Olteanu peddled his influence to appoint journalist and environmental activist Liviu Mihaihu as head of the authority managing the Delta Danube reservoir, a huge biosphere under UNESCO protection.
Olteanu "requested and received one million euros and electoral support... in exchange for proceedings to convince government members to name a certain person as Danube Delta governor," Romania's powerful anti-corruption agency said in a statement.
Olteanu, who joined the central bank in 2009, was due to appear in court later on Friday, with police seeking a 30-day arrest warrant.
Several other high-ranking politicians are also being investigated as part of the case including former prime minister and current senate speaker Calin Popescu Tariceanu, local media reported.
Romania, one of the European Union's poorest members, has come under increasing pressure from Brussels to fight rampant corruption.
As a result, authorities have arrested dozens of senior government officials and businessmen in recent years.
Ex-prime minister Victor Ponta, who stepped down last November, is currently on trial over allegations of fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.
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