Nastase is accused of receiving more than €1.3 million in bribes, “including merchandise illegally shipped from China, from an official in charge of civil and industrial construction”, the International Herald Tribune writes.

In addition, the International Herald Tribune reports that he is accused of “receiving illegal campaign contributions worth €817 000 from a printing company and a construction company”.

According to the BBC, the case “relates to the building of an apartment in Bucharest”. BBC notes that Nastase was “forced to step down” from the leadership of the opposition Social Democrat Party last year, when the investigation opened, adding that “Correspondents say the Romanian authorities have been anxious to deal with allegations of corruption as the country prepares to join the EU”.

The Southeast Europe Times notes that Nastase is the most important Romanian politician to face such charges. The paper quotes Nastase’s belief that he is the victim of “big, dirty political manoeuvres”, and his claim that “an entire system of prosecutors, policemen and people from the secret services was deployed in order to make up the case”.