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Europe

Romania: anti-graft chief says corruption fight threatened

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Romania's chief anti-corruption prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, June 7, 2016. Kovesi, who has been praised by EU countries and the U.S. for her anti-corruption fight received one of France's highest honors, the Legion of Honor in recognition of her work from French Ambassador Francois Saint-Paul. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

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    Romania's chief anti-corruption prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, June 7, 2016. Kovesi, who has been praised by EU countries and the U.S. for her anti-corruption fight received one of France's highest honors, the Legion of Honor in recognition of her work from French Ambassador Francois Saint-Paul. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

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    Romania's chief anti-corruption prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, right, receives the French Legion of honor from French Ambassador Francois Saint-Paul as her parents Ileana and Ioan Lascu, right, watch, during a ceremony in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, June 7, 2016. Kovesi, who has been praised by EU countries and the U.S. for her anti-corruption fight received one of France's highest honors, the Legion of Honor in recognition of her work . (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

BUCHAREST, Romania – Romania's chief anti-corruption prosecutor has warned that moves to decriminalize corruption could lead to public officials defrauding the state without retribution.

The Constitutional Court will rule on June 15 whether to decriminalize abuse of office, currently a criminal offense.

Last year, the agency investigated or charged high-ranking officials in 661 cases on suspicion of abuse of office, worth millions of dollars.

"If this ... is decriminalized we will no longer be able to investigate," chief anti-corruption prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi told The Associated Press. "Every public servant will be sanctioned according to whim and will be able to do what they want to the detriment of the state and citizens."

Some politicians who are being investigated or have been indicted are pushing to limit the agency's powers.