Glamorous former Romanian tourism minister and presidential candidate is detained on suspicion of money laundering
- Prosecutors want to keep former presidential candidate detained for a month
- MP accused of asking for bribe for 'Bute Gala' boxing event she organised
- Faces corruption charges over illegal licensing of software in schools
- Notorious for close relationship with ex Romanian president Traian Basescu
- Investigation part of a case involving ex-ministers and businessmen
- Founder of Popular Movement Party denies any wrongdoing
The former Romanian tourism minister and presidential candidate, Elena Udrea, is being held on charges of money laundering and influence peddling.
The glamorous MP, who finished fourth in November's presidential election, was detained for 24 hours late on Tuesday after she entered the anti-corruption prosecutor's office to answer charges.
A court will now decide whether to arrest her for 30 days.
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Glamorous: Former Romanian tourism minister Elena Udrea was arrested on corruption charges. The politician, who finished fourth in November's presidential election, denies any wrongdoing
Denial: The MP, who finished fourth in November's presidential election, denies the corruption charges
Prosecutors said she is charged with influence peddling in the illegal licensing of software in schools and money laundering.
She is also accused of asking for a £370,000 bribe to give preferential contracts while organizing the 'Gala Bute' event as a minister of tourism, an event to promote the Romanian boxing champion Lucian Bute.
Lawmakers voted to approve her arrest Monday on three charges. Udrea, who founded the Popular Movement Party last year, denies wrongdoing.
Presidential candidate: Elena Udrea finished fourth in November's presidential election. She has been detained on suspicion of money laundering
Founder of Popular Movement Party denies any wrongdoing. The MP has been detained on suspicion of money laundering
The 41-year-old gained notoriety due to her close relationship with Traian Basescu, Romania's president from 2004 to 2014.
She participated in several controversial pictorials and is known for wearing expensive clothes and buying international designer purses.
The investigation is part of a case involving nine ex-ministers and several businessmen accused of facilitating contracts for preferred companies that sold Microsoft software licenses to the state.
Charges: Elena Udrea is accused of asking for a £370,000 bribe to give preferential contracts while organizing the 'Gala Bute' event as a minister of tourism
Woman of influence: Elena Udrea widely regarded as one of the most influential politicians in the country. She denies any wrongdoing
The total value of the contract was £35.5 million, out of which the defendants allegedly claimed £13.1 million as a bribe.
Udrea's ex-husband, businessman Dorin Cocos, has also been arrested.
The minister has vowed to fight the charges, accusing officials of orchestrating her arrest. She said: 'They can handcuff Elena Udrea, but they cannot handcuff the truth.'
In office: MP and founder of Popular Movement Party, who finished fourth in November's presidential election, denies the corruption charges
She accused General Florian Coldea, interim president of the Romanian Internal Intelligence, of setting up her arrest, claiming he is involved in major corruption cases and wants her silenced.
A parliamentary commission organised a hearing for General Coldea but found no proof that her claims are true.
Udrea was the minister of tourism between 2008 and 2009 and also the minister of regional development and tourism between 2009 and 2012.
In her last position, she administered a yearly budget of £2.37 billion.
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