DNA's Kovesi: We never play politics; we build cases, get indictments, always obeying the law

Chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) Laura Codruta Kovesi says DNA never plays politics and it always obeys the law. 

"We never play politics; we build case files, get indictments, while always obeying the law in our activity. I believe that our professional, objective investigations of the past years were confirmed by the large number of court rulings we got. Each year, almost 1,000 people were indicted in DNA cases for 1,1000 or 1,200 people sent to court each year," Kovesi told AGERPRES in a recent interview. 

About the attacks at DNA, Kovesi says most of the times they come from persons investigated or their supporters. 

"I can only say that the DNA prosecutors are professionally mature enough to overcome the attacks and the attempts at their intimidation. When they crossed a certain line, I always notified the Supreme Council of Magistrates (CSM) and I will keep on doing it," said Kovesi. 

She says prosecutors are motivated in their job when the civil society or embassies support them. 

"Very often when the citizens (...) the civil society, embassies took a stand when attempts would be made at curtailing the investigative powers of DNA helped tremendously. Their stands were very encouraging to the prosecutors because they did not feel alone in the fight," says Kovesi. 

About the instances in which Parliament denies request for immunity stripping, Kovesi says they are a problem she singled out. 

"The activity of prosecutors is subjected to the control of the courts of law. No other state authority, especially no politicians should state on such requests, but for the time being that is written in the Constitution. We obey the law, but, as you can see, sometimes we get the go-ahead, other times we do not," added Kovesi. 

The DNA chief prosecutor said DNA prosecutors are motivated to continue doing their job. "We are all motivated to continue what we have started so that we may live in a corruption-free Romania," said Kovesi. AGERPRES