Anti graft prosecutors urge Romanian Justice minister to request EP to lift immunity of MEP Adrian Severin

Anti-graft prosecutors sent on Tuesday, to the Justice minister Catalin Predoiu a request to lift parliamentary immunity of Romanian MEP Adrian Severin, suspected of bribe taking and traffic of influence following the Sunday Times reveal of the laws for money scandal involving three MEPs including Romanian Severin. Catalin Predoiu would have to send this request to the European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek.

Adrian Severin declared for Realitatea TV that he does not comment the request of anti graft prosecutors. On March 21st 2011, following some audio video materials released by the British The Sunday Times, anti graft prosecutors started an investigation regarding possible corruption acts of Romanian MEP Adrian Severin.

The Sunday Times reporters proposed to 60 MEPs to pay up to 100,000 euro per year in eschange of passing some amendments in the European Parliament. Only three of the MEPs accepted the proposal including Romanian MEP Adrian Severin. Last week, Severin quit the Social Democratic Party after he was threatened to be excluded but announced he will not resign from the European Parliament even though his resignation was requested by EP President Jerzy Buzek.