Muresan was convicted last year of embezzling US$1.2 million in grants from the United States Agency for International Development(USAID). He is already serving a seven year sentence.
Romania has struggled to repair its image as one of the European Union’s most corrupt countries in order to be admitted into the visa-free Schengen travel zone. Bucharest drew criticism in a recent report by the European Commission for failing to tackle corruption and organized crime.
A report last month by the Romanian branch of Transparency International said there has been a national failing grade in the test of resistance to corruption.
The sentences come one mother after courts sentenced former Prime Minister Adrian Natase to two years in prison for corruption. After a three year trial, Natase was convicted at the end of January for embezzling US$2.1 million in government funds that were funneled to his 2004 election campaign.
