Supreme Court hears appeals in major corruption case involving former agriculture minister

The Constitutional Court has accelerated the review of appeals in the extensive corruption case that led to former Agriculture Minister Adrian Ionuț Chesnoiu receiving a four-year prison term. A five-judge panel heard testimony from defendant Mihai Pârv and his spouse, with the wife acting only as a witness. Judges probed Pârv about a puzzling message reading "am luat pentru tine dir gen" and asked who the "shark" mentioned in the inquiry was.

Pârv claimed ignorance of many details, though investigators have tied his communications to political actors including Mihai Viorel Fifor and senator Eusebiu Manea Pistru. The court noted that the contested recruitment process appeared pre-arranged for Pârv. Final pleadings are set for early November, after which the court will issue its definitive rulings.