Interior Minister Catalin Predou said he had discussed with his Italian counterpart “the practice of citizens sentenced indefinitely who escape the application of Romanian law and find legal loopholes in Italian law to do so.” We remind you that in recent years, Italy has become a haven for famous Romanian fugitives who are trying to escape from prison, including former PSD baron from Germany Ionel Arsen, former head of DIICOT Alina Bica, businessman Dragos Savulescu or Mario Iorgulescu. , the son of the president of the Professional Football League, Gino Iorgulescu.

In a press release, Cătălin Predoiu said that he recently met with the Minister of the Interior of Italy, establishing police cooperation to fight organized crime, drug and human trafficking through the exchange of experience, information exchange and direct joint operations measures against organized crime.

“We are increasing the number of Romanian police officers assigned to this cooperation with the Italian police officers in order to identify which members of organized crime are carrying out their criminal activities on the territory of Romania. These measures will directly contribute to the security of Romanian citizens.

For us, the connection with the national police of other EU member states, such as the Italian one, is an investment in the ability of the Romanian police to fight organized crime,” says Predoyu.

According to him, there have also been discussions with the leadership of the police academy in Rome to cooperate with the “Alexandru Ioan Cusa” police academy to increase the number of Romanian police officers who will exchange experience with their Italian counterparts.

Katelin Predoui says that he also discussed with the Italian Minister of the Interior the practice of citizens sentenced indefinitely “who escape from the application of Romanian law and find legal loopholes in Italian law to do so”: “Respecting the independence of all European magistrates, I emphasized that the European norms clearly establish the principle of recognition of final court decisions within the European Union. The Italian minister agreed with these points of view and we agreed to keep this topic on our joint agenda.”

In recent years, Italy has become – along with Greece – a haven for famous Romanian fugitives trying to escape from prison.

The escape of the final convicts from Romania to Italy was until 2021 a guarantee that they would avoid prison on the basis of the enabling law. After the rule change, Romanian convicts are planning to escape by obtaining a residence permit and opening a business in Italy, writes Europa Liberă.

The list of famous fugitives who found refuge in Italy includes: former PSD baron from Germany Ionel Arsen, former SRI officer Daniel Dragomir, businessman Dragos Savulescu, Mario Iorgulescu, Alina Bika, former MEP Marian Zlotea, Kornel Bohdan Popa, former director of Stolichna City Hall and businessman Romeo Albu, the last two convicted in the corruption case of Sorin Oprescu.