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Investigation into Government Corruption with Software Licensing Begins in Romania

By Christopher Mohr, TMCnet Contributing Writer

The Romanian government’s anti-corruption agency, known as the DNA, has launched an investigation into nine government ministers allegedly profiting from inflated pricing for Microsoft Windows software licenses. It is the latest incident in a country that has long suffered from unethical government practices.  

Of the nine accused, five no longer serve as ministers or in any official capacity. The remaining four have immunity since they actively hold office; three with the Romanian government and one in the European Parliament (EP). They cannot be prosecuted until Romania and the EP lift their immunity.

The case spans a period from 2004 to 2009. During that time, the nine ministers were said to have signed deals that licensed software to various schools. Microsoft (News - Alert) offered these licenses at a 47 percent discount off the normal price, but the government was billed for a higher amount and the officials are suspected of pocketing most of the difference.

Romania has long struggled with problems of government corruption and there are no signs that it will be reduced significantly anytime soon. The country has been blocked from joining the Schengen Area, a large section of Europe that allows movement without a passport with other Schengen members and encourages free trade. The Netherlands, Germany and Finland have voiced concerns about organized crime and a corrupt judicial system. It also doesn’t help that Romania’s parliament voted last December to exempt high ranking politicians from corruption crimes when 28 members faced prosecution for such offenses.

In light of that news, it is encouraging an agency like the DNA has the will to hold government officials accountable for corruption. This problem has economically hurt a country that is among the poorest in Europe and continues to hold it back. Unfortunately these efforts may be for naught. To see that a country is so corrupt that many facing charges for graft and bribery were able to vote themselves immunity is troubling to say the least. Don’t hold your breath waiting for the nine officials under DNA investigation to see any jail time.