Ex-Romanian presidential candidate held in corruption probe

A former Romanian presidential candidate was remanded in custody late Tuesday over her alleged role in a corruption scandal involving Microsoft licences that has sucked in a number of high-profile figures, prosecutors said. Elena Udrea, dubbed "the president's blonde" by the media for her role as close advisor to former conservative president Traian Basescu, was arrested Tuesday and questioned for 10 hours before being taken into custody, the anti-corruption prosecutor's office said. Prosecutors have applied for the 41-year-old to be held for a minimum of 30 days while the investigation continues. Parliament lifted her immunity from prosecution on Monday. Romania, one of the poorest countries in the European Union, has been rocked by the scandal over the provision of Microsoft software licenses. Several former ministers have been questioned in the case. Udrea, an unsuccessful candidate in last year's presidential race, is accused of money laundering and falsifying documents declaring her assets by omitting to reveal the origin of funds used to finance real estate purchases in 2009 and 2013. According to prosecutors, some of that money came from bribes paid to her former husband, Dorin Cocos, for his role in the government's purchases of Microsoft licences. Cocos, who Udrea divorced in 2013, was himself remanded in custody in October 2014 for alleged offences including money laundering. Cocos is accused of having demanded around $15.7 million (13.9 euros) in under-the-table payments for himself and two associates in exchange for influencing members of government to authorise the renewal of Microsoft licences. Authorities in Romania have stepped up the fight against graft in recent years, arresting and prosecuting several prominent politicians, officials and business leaders for money laundering, tax evasion and other crimes. Constitutional Court judge Toni Grebla resigned last week to fight corruption allegations stemming from public procurement contracts.