Former Romanian PM Grindeanu in hearing in graft case related to party leader Liviu Dragnea

Former Romanian prime minister Sorin Grindeanu, who served in the first half of 2017, faced hearings at the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) on Tuesday. He was summoned to the DNA as a witness in the so-called Belina file, which is related to House speaker Liviu Dragnea, the leader of the governing Social Democrats (PSD).

Upon leaving the DNA, he said he referred to a fishing party which he attended with Dragnea on the Belina lake, South Romania.

About a year ago, Grindeanu and Dragnea published images showing them river fishing. The images were identified to have been taken at lake Belina along the Danube river. This led to a wave of investigations which linked Belina to dubious property exchanges connected to Liviu Dragnea. Dragnea used to serve as county council in the region, prior to rising to national politics.