Former Education Minister Alexandru Athanasiu was indicted on Monday for abuse of office by the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA)'s prosecutors in a Microsoft 2 case. After being heard earlier on Monday, he professed himself innocent, adding that he has always acted in good faith.
Asked who had convinced him to sign the government decision for the now controversial educational licenses, he answered: "Nobody convinced me, it was a document with the Education Ministry and the Communications Ministry that had persuaded me, I mean a census on the computers of the education network was taken and the Communications Ministry decided what kind of Microsoft educational license was compatible with the configuration of those computers. Facing such a document that was saying they were necessary (...) I'm telling you I'm no IT expert, I mean that is why qualified people exist in this field and had the official position very well defined. (...) I don't believe a minister should know how many screws are there in a machine, as long as they've got specialty departments organised and running exactly for this purpose."
Athanasiu added he is no longer charged with bribe taking, influence peddling and money laundering. "The other charges have been dropped; well, it's no joy the abuse of office either, the abuse of office carries huge punishment, and I'm not thinking yet seriously to get into a confinement regime knowing I didn't touch a penny as a public servant. (...) It is not normal that those who have stolen enormously in this country from their public officess, from businesspersons' positions and in general from the public money to laugh at fools like me. (...) I've always acted in good faith, this is what Mr. prosecutor admitted, too, I told him it is not good what they are doing. (...) I'm not a petty person, I don't inform on people," he said. Athanasiu said no damage has been assessed in his case, adding that he took out no document when he left office.
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