“There is nothing that has never existed before”

The DNA was requested the other day, based on law 544/2001, to specify the stage of the file/files opened by DLAF notifications on May 10, 2021 by the institution from Ştirbei Vodă, if hearings were held in these files, if any person has the status of suspect or defendant or if the DNA ordered the classification solution.

The official DNA response was as follows:

“In reference to what you requested in the application, at this time, on the DNA role

– The Central Structure, three criminal files established as a result of the notification of the DLAF are being worked on. In these cases, the criminal investigation is started only with regard to the deed (“in rem”), therefore, no person had the capacity of suspect or defendant. This stage does not have the character of formulating accusations against a person, but only has the meaning of establishing the procedural framework in which the first evidence can be gathered regarding a possible criminal act”.

Following checks subsequent to DNA’s response, of these 3 files drawn up by DNA prosecutors following the DLAF notification, it was found that 1 file has already been closed and two files allegedly targeting the former president of USR, Dan Barna, are being worked on in DNA , judicial sources show.

Considering that the alleged committed acts date back to 2010 – 2011, it is possible that in some of these cases the statute of limitations of criminal liability has intervened.

Contacted by Mediafax and Aleph News, the USR vice-president, Dan Barna, said: “Out of the 4 problems reported by the DLAF, 3 were classified as non-existent and there is another problem that is probably kept for the next campaign. I still haven’t been quoted or asked about anything, because there is nothing about me, only some checks are being made. There is nothing that has never existed before.”

More than 2 years ago, on September 22, 2021, the DNA response at the same request, however, there was another.

The DNA showed that at that time it only had 1 file under investigation, starting from the notification of the DLAF.

The anti-corruption prosecutor’s office stated that a criminal case started from the notification is under investigation by the prosecutors, the criminal investigation being started only “in rem” (regarding the deed), and in the same scandal – another case was closed.

Another second file had been closed – the DNA mentioned at the time – on June 14, 2021. The file had followed a path for 3 years and 2 months: 2 classifications, 1 disconnection, a continuation of investigations, a denial of the classification, a reopening and a resumption of the criminal investigation, another ex officio referral, a DNA expertise, a DLAF control and an investigation by the prosecutors.

On September 28 and 29, 2021, DLAF, in a response to Mediafax and Aleph News, announced that already on May 20 of the same year, it had drawn up the notification documents and submitted the entire documentation to the DNA:

“Following the checks carried out in the case of the project “Library of good practices. Innovative concept for the development of the rural environment” (POSDRU/135/5.2/S/125782 – SMIS code 51031), having as beneficiary SC Grupul de Consultanță per Dezvoluta DCG SRL, there were indications regarding the possible commission of criminal acts, which is why the Department for the fight against fraud – DLAF proceeded to draw up the notification documents. The entire documentation was sent to the National Anticorruption Directorate (Section for Combating Offenses Similar to Corruption Offenses). The Department for the fight against fraud – DLAF proceeded, in the case you refer to, to draw up the reporting documents and submitted the entire documentation to the National Anticorruption Directorate, on May 20, 2021”.

On May 11, 2021, the same DLAF announced that “following the checks carried out in the case of the projects “Community Bridges” (SMIS code 56760) and “SES-am open!” (SMIS code 56699) resulted in indications of the possible commission of criminal acts, which is why the Department for the fight against fraud – DLAF proceeded, on 05.05.2021, to draw up the reporting documents. The findings concern 4 people who, at the time of the act, held the qualifications of an expert with recruitment duties, respectively, managers of social economy structures (entities established within the projects)”.

A material that appeared on the Rise Project platform before the 2019 presidential elections, called “The truth about Dan Barna”, would generate a series of public controversies related to the presidential candidate and USR head at the time.

“Successful entrepreneur Dan Barna has behind him a long series of failures that cost almost six million euros. We are talking about people with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds, difficult to integrate on the labor market and extremely neglected in Romania. On their behalf, the Development Consultancy Group – DCG, the company founded by Dan Barna, earned millions under the pretext of doing good. Three generous European projects look like after the war. Money evaporated between friends with custom invoices, in nepotism, embezzlement, fictitious payments, theft of equipment and speeches about the beauty of the entrepreneurial spirit. On the part of the beneficiaries, a lot of disappointment,” the publication said on October 15, 2019.

The complete DNA answer

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