"In Romania, coruptia este o metastaza"

Google Translation:

First Line Reporter - Dana Deac

"In Romania, corruption is a metastasis".

The young journalist Dana Deac, producer of the reportage show "Prezentul simplu" from Antena 1, is well known to the viewing public for her seriousness and professionalism. His moral character, devotion and the warmth with which he approaches those who are at an impasse have made Dana Deac a true institution to which those who need help turn with confidence.
- Ms. Dana Deac, what does the name of the show you produce actually express? The present we are living is not at all simple, on the contrary, it is a real labyrinth.
- I called this show "The Simple Present" because everything around is so complicated, and we passionately complicate even the simplest situations. Our desire and ambition is to bring to the viewers only topics that interest them, in which they can recognize themselves with all their problems.
Then, we sought to give a helping hand to bitter people. At first glance, the situations we focused on might have seemed particular, but they are a synecdoche of our state of mind: very poor people, people without any support, people who had suffered judicial errors found understanding with us and, not once, a solution to their troubles. So, from the big, negative phenomena that haunt our society, to particular problems - they all found an echo on the show "Prezentul simplu". Mafia without a party - One of the big phenomena, which is undermining the Romanian society from the foundations, is corruption, which you often X-ray in your broadcasts. Does your brave and risky approach resonate? - Last year, in May, I personally carried out an investigation in connection with the Stryker business, a medical equipment business, harmful to the Romanian state. Thanks to the show "Prezentul simplu", which broadcasted the report about this business, we, the Romanian citizens, are perhaps 25 million dollars richer. But corruption is not just a phenomenon, it does not belong to a single business, it is a state of fact in Romania. It is almost impossible to dwell on corruption because, unfortunately, it exists everywhere. It is a metastasis. - Your latest investigations concern the illegal adoption of children. How did you discover this “state of affairs”


- The press has been writing about international adoptions since 1990. Therefore, I did not dwell on this topic for the first time. I managed, with the approval of Mr. General Berechet, head of the General Police Inspectorate, to consult a series of files. I discovered that the judges had been bribed with a cartridge by Kent or other officials with a hundred dollars. Instead, the sums earned from these adoptions by the so-called "intermediaries" were fabulous.
- Have the files been submitted to the Court for trial?
- Yes, only that many files of the people involved in such transactions (because I cannot call them adoptions) are still lying, either at different levels of the Police, or at the Prosecutor's Office, or have not yet been finalized by the prosecutors and in - they arrived in court. There are enormously many people involved in such transactions, some with very high positions. Maybe that's why things stopped in place. Because otherwise I can't explain how an alleged accomplice in the theft of four chickens was sent, innocent, to prison, while people in high positions, who were guilty of corruption, are still in the same prisons functions or even advanced.
- What is the illegality/corruption of those involved in an international adoption?
- I called them "mafia without a party", because, here, international adoptions were, since 1980, during Ceausescu's time, a very shady activity. But in the nine years, under Ceausescu, Romania offered 600 children to foreigners through international adoptions, while from "90 to "99 there were over 24,000 international adoptions. And we still cannot be sure of this figure, because there have been many cases of fraudulent crossing of the border, adoptions not declared as such. There are people who testify that in the period "90-"95 whole planes with children went abroad. Until 1996, there was a situation, carried out by officials of the Prosecutor's Office, from which it is clear that in just a few months - between February 1995 and October 1995 - the Romanian Committee for Adoptions (Cra) granted only two international adoptions, while at the Passport Directorate we have over 3000 international passports for Romanian children. None of these children had passed through Cra. No one asked themselves whether these children, thousands of children, are living well or not, or if they are actually living and what It happened to them. From this uncertainty, horrible speculations like organ trafficking started.
 

The illegality consists in the fact that many children were brought across the border without a legal adoption sentence, without a correct address of the adoptive parents or even their correct name. I have a list of ten children adopted in Spain, and the addresses are not correct. We tried to find them on the Internet, using various websites, to discover a phone number, to contact these families and ask, for example: "What is Sorin doing?" or Ana-Maria, or Elena. Unfortunately, they are practically extinct.

Big business with children

The illegality also consists in the fact that no taxes were charged for the huge sums in dollars - approximately 30,000 dollars for a child. These amounts have not been declared. If taxes had been levied - as is correct - the amounts thus obtained would have helped the establishments - today on the verge of extinction - where the children are kept. - Are there concrete cases of people involved in such transactions?
- Many articles from "Free Romania" published until 1996 talk about a lawyer whom I also asked to give me an interview, in the investigation I am doing. It is about Ileana Bustea, who from the 1990s until today, despite the scandals she caused in the Italian, Spanish or Israeli press, sees herself further from business, undisturbed. The articles in "Romania libera" even called prosecutors or public officials who covered such affairs. And even if in December 1996 an article in "Libera Romania" proclaimed: "Power has changed, it's time to do justice", until today - we are in the year 2000 - justice still not it was done, and my colleague's cry remained only a cry in the wilderness. I can say that my approach didn't bother anyone either, there were no reactions. Although I asked the General Prosecutor's Office next to the Supreme Court of Justice to inform me if there are files regarding the people we are investigating, I was not given any answer. When talking about corruption, the reaction is one of perplexity, of total coldness. Even more: if someone insists on discovering the corrupt, he faces many "barriers". Despite the silence of the Prosecutor's Office, I still obtained, like any journalist, official data. But I used other means than the strictly official ones.
I collaborated very well with the General Police Inspectorate, because from the beginning, General Berechet gave his consent and I was supported by the Brigade for Combating Organized Crime as much as possible. Exactly during the investigation, the two police officers who were in charge of the adoptions were changed from their position. The same Mrs. Ileana Bustea, lawyer, filed a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office against them. The accusation was that the two would have exceeded their duties. However, following the investigation of the Military Prosecutor's Office, the two were found not guilty (I even have the resolution of the Carp prosecutor). They are, indeed, innocent, but they still haven't returned to their jobs. But that remains the problem of the Ministry of the Interior. The sin is that such situations make us think. Why were they not reinstated? Why did lawyer Bustea's complaints carry so much weight, despite the fact that the two police officers were only doing their jobs?
It is sad that this troubled situation in the field of international adoptions made in Romania was the subject of some press campaigns abroad. One of the cases investigated by me, of the Italian Amatulli, produced a huge scandal in 1995. The president of Italy at the time, Scalfaro, the Italian Parliament and the empowered commission from the European Parliament accused Romania of illegal practices. Lawyer Ileana Bustea separated two brothers - a girl and a boy - entrusted by the Court to the Italian Amatulli family. She convinced the children's natural parents that the Amatulli family would give up the girl and thus obtained a second consent for Daniela Elena, but this time in favor of a Spanish family. Very quickly and inexplicably easily, he took the girl out of the orphanage and gave her to the Spaniards, who took her to Spain. And the Amatulli family, who didn't know about this whole story, consider even now, after five years, that a girl was kidnapped from them, they are still the legal parents of the girl.

Justice in two speeds

- You have touched on a hot topic. How will we be able to enter the European Community, when some of our honorable lawyers are international criminals, and Romania is considered a homeland of corruption?
- I would not blame these few, very few lawyers. After so many steps and investigations, we came to the conclusion that the illegal adoptions were made with the tacit support of the authorities. I would rather blame the Romanian authorities, which should have been the guarantor of legality and fairness. The Romanian authorities are guilty because they allowed this phenomenon to exist. Not even a high state official - paid from taxpayers' money - cared that Romania is seen so badly in the world. My shock is that after these four years, which we all waited for with so much hope, the time for justice has not yet come. For now, in Romania the law works with two measures: one, drastic, applied to many, the other, applied to some at high levels, which admits illegalities and resounding wrongdoings.
- Mrs. Dana Deac, you are a respected investigative reporter. What essential quality should such a journalist have?
- A quality that can be seen in many of my colleagues - both in the print media and on television - morality. Because, if you are not moral as an individual, you cannot make yourself heard. When you discover something, you must necessarily have morals to be credible. And, thank God, there are still moral journalists left in Romania!

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Reporter In Linia Intai - Dana Deac. (Realizator T.V. la Antena 1). "In Romania, coruptia este o metastaza". Tanara ziarista Dana Deac, realizatoarea emisiunii de reportaje "Prezentul simplu" de la Antena 1, este binecunoscuta publicului telespectator pentru seriozitate si profesion... 

Reporter In Linia Intai - Dana Deac

(Realizator T.V. la Antena 1)

"In Romania, coruptia este o metastaza"

Tanara ziarista Dana Deac, realizatoarea emisiunii de reportaje "Prezentul simplu" de la Antena 1, este binecunoscuta publicului telespectator pentru seriozitate si profesionalism. Tinuta sa morala, devotamentul si caldura cu care se apropie de cei aflati in impas au facut din Dana Deac o adevarata institutie careia i se adreseaza cu incredere cei ce au nevoie de ajutor.

- D-na Dana Deac, ce exprima, de fapt, numele emisiunii pe care o realizati? Prezentul pe care-l traim nu este deloc simplu, ba dimpotriva, e un adevarat labirint. 

- I-am spus acestei emisiuni "Prezentul simplu" pentru ca totul in jur este atat de complicat, iar noi ne complicam cu pasiune si cele mai simple situatii. Dorinta si stradania noastra este de a aduce in fata telespectatorilor numai subiecte care sa-i intereseze, in care sa se poata recunoaste cu toate problemele lor. 

Apoi, am cautat sa dam o mana de ajutor oamenilor amarati. La o prima vedere, situatiile asupra carora ne-am oprit ar fi putut parea particulare, dar ele sunt o sinecdoca a starii noastre de spirit: oameni foarte saraci, oameni fara vreun sprijin, oameni care suferisera erori judiciare au gasit la noi intelegere si, nu o data, o rezolvare a necazurilor lor. Asadar, de la fenomenele mari, negative, care bantuie societatea noastra, pana la probleme particulare - toate si-au gasit ecou la emisiunea "Prezentul simplu".

Mafia fara partid

- Unul dintre fenomenele mari, care subrezeste din temelii societatea romaneasca, este coruptia, pe care o radiografiati adesea in emisiunile dvs. Demersul dvs. curajos si riscant are oare ecou?

- Anul trecut, in luna mai, am realizat personal o ancheta in legatura cu afacerea Stryker, o afacere cu echipamente medicale, paguboasa pentru statul roman. Datorita emisiunii "Prezentul simplu", care a difuzat reportajul despre aceasta afacere, noi, cetatenii romani, suntem poate mai bogati cu 25 de milioane de dolari. Dar coruptia nu este doar un fenomen, ea nu tine de o singura afacere, ci este o stare de fapt in Romania. Asupra coruptiei este aproape imposibil sa te opresti pentru ca, din pacate, ea exista pretutindeni. Este o metastaza.

- Ultimele dvs. investigatii vizeaza adoptiile ilegale de copii. Cum ati descoperit aceasta "stare de fapt"?

- Despre adoptiile internationale presa tot scrie inca din 1990. Prin urmare, nu m-am oprit eu pentru prima oara la acest subiect. Eu am reusit, cu aprobarea domnului general Berechet, seful Inspectoratului General al Politiei, sa consult o serie de dosare. Am descoperit ca judecatorii fusesera corupti cu un cartus de Kent sau alti functionari cu o suta de dolari. In schimb, sumele castigate din aceste adoptii de asa-numitii "intermediari" erau fabuloase.

- Dosarele au fost inaintate Justitiei spre judecare?

- Da, numai ca foarte multe dosare ale persoanelor implicate in astfel de tranzactii (pentru ca nu le pot numi adoptii) zac inca, fie la diferite nivele ale Politiei, fie la Parchete, fie inca n-au fost finalizate de catre procurori si n-au ajuns in instanta. Sunt enorm de multe persoane implicate in asemenea tranzactii, unele cu functii foarte inalte. Poate de aceea si lucrurile s-au oprit in loc. Pentru ca altfel nu-mi explic cum un presupus complice la furtul a patru gaini a fost trimis, nevinovat, sa faca inchisoare, in vreme ce persoane infipte in functii inalte, care s-au facut vinovate de coruptie, se afla in continuare in aceleasi functii sau chiar au avansat.

- In ce consta ilegalitatea/coruptia celor implicati intr-o adoptie internationala?

- Eu i-am numit "mafie fara partid", pentru ca, iata, adoptiile internationale au fost, inca din 1980, din timpul lui Ceausescu, o activitate foarte banoasa. Dar in cei noua ani, sub Ceausescu, Romania a oferit strainatatii 600 de copii prin adoptii internationale, in vreme ce din "90 pana in "99 s-au facut peste 24.000 de adoptii internationale. Si tot nu putem fi siguri de aceasta cifra, deoarece au mai existat foarte multe cazuri de trecere frauduloasa a granitei, adoptii nedeclarate ca atare. Exista persoane care depun marturie ca in perioada "90-"95 au plecat avioane intregi cu copii in strainatate. Pana in "96, exista o situatie, realizata de functionari ai Parchetului din care se vede clar ca doar in cateva luni - intre februarie "95 si octombrie "95 - Comitetul Roman pentru Adoptii (Cra) acorda doar doua adoptii internationale, in vreme ce la Directia Pasapoarte avem peste 3000 de pasapoarte internationale pentru copii romani. Nici unul dintre acesti copii nu trecusera pe la Cra. Nimeni nu si-a pus intrebarea daca acesti copii, mii de copii, traiesc bine sau nu, sau daca traiesc efectiv si ce s-a intamplat cu ei. De la aceasta incertitudine au pornit si speculatii ingrozitoare ca traficul de organe.

Ilegalitatea consta in faptul ca multi copii au fost trecuti peste granita fara sa existe o sentinta legala de adoptie, fara sa existe o adresa corecta a parintilor adoptivi sau macar numele corect al acestora. Am o lista de zece copii adoptati in Spania, iar adresele nu sunt corecte. Am incercat sa le gasim pe Internet, folosind diversele site-uri, sa descoperim un numar de telefon, sa luam legatura cu aceste familii si sa intrebam, de pilda: "Ce face Sorin?" sau Ana-Maria, sau Elena. Din pacate, ei sunt practic disparuti.

Afaceri marsave cu copii

Ilegalitatea mai consta si in faptul ca pentru sumele uriase in dolari - aproximativ 30.000 de dolari pentru un copil - nu s-au perceput impozite. Aceste sume n-au fost declarate. Daca s-ar fi perceput - cum este corect - impozite, cu sumele astfel obtinute ar fi fost ajutate stabilimentele - azi pe cale de disparitie - in care sunt tinuti copiii.

- Exista cazuri concrete ale unor persoane implicate in astfel de tranzactii?

- Multe articole din "Romania libera" aparute pana in 1996 vorbesc despre o avocata pe care am rugat-o si eu sa-mi acorde un interviu, in investigatia pe care o fac. Este vorba de Ileana Bustea, care din "90 pana astazi, in ciuda scandalurilor pe care le-a iscat in presa italiana, spaniola sau in cea din Israel, isi vede mai departe de afaceri, netulburata. Articolele din "Romania libera" numeau chiar procurori sau functionari publici care acopereau astfel de afaceri. Si chiar daca in decembrie "96 un articol din "Romania libera" clama: "S-a schimbat Puterea, e vremea sa se faca dreptate", pana astazi - suntem in anul 2000 - dreptate inca nu s-a facut, iar strigatul colegului meu a ramas doar un strigat in pustiu. Pot spune ca nici demersul meu n-a deranjat pe nimeni, n-au existat reactii. Desi am cerut Parchetului General de pe langa Curtea Suprema de Justitie sa mi se comunice daca exista dosare cu privire la persoanele pe care le investigam, nu mi s-a dat nici un raspuns. Atunci cand se vorbeste despre coruptie, reactia este de perplexitate, de raceala totala. Ba chiar mai mult: daca cineva insista sa-i descopere pe cei corupti, intampina numeroase "bariere". In ciuda tacerii Parchetului, am obtinut totusi, ca orice jurnalist, date oficiale. Dar m-am folosit de alte mijloace decat cele strict oficiale.

Cu Inspectoratul General de Politie am colaborat foarte bine, pentru ca de la inceput, generalul Berechet si-a dat acordul si am fost sprijinita de Brigada pentru Combaterea Crimei Organizate atat cat s-a putut. Exact in timpul investigatiei, cei doi ofiteri de Politie care se ocupau de adoptii au fost schimbati din functie. Aceeasi doamna Ileana Bustea, avocata, a facut o plangere la Parchet impotriva lor. Acuzatia era ca cei doi si-ar fi depasit sarcinile de serviciu. In urma anchetei Parchetului Militar insa, cei doi au iesit nevinovati (am chiar rezolutia procurorului Carp). Ei sunt, intr-adevar, nevinovati, dar tot n-au revenit in functie. Asta insa ramane problema Ministerului de Interne. Pacatul este ca asemenea situatii ne pun pe ganduri. De ce n-au fost repusi in functie? De ce au avut atata greutate plangerile avocatei Bustea, in ciuda evidentei ca cei doi politisti isi facusera doar meseria?

Trist este ca aceasta situatie tulbure din domeniul adoptiilor internationale facute in Romania a constituit subiectul unor campanii de presa in strainatate. Unul dintre cazurile investigate de mine, al italianului Amatulli, a produs in 1995 un urias scandal. Presedintele de-atunci al Italiei, Scalfaro, Parlamentul italian si comisia abilitata din Parlamentul european au acuzat Romania de practici ilegale. Avocata Ileana Bustea a despartit doi frati - o fata si un baiat - incredintati de Tribunal familiei italiene Amatulli. Ea a convins parintii naturali ai copiilor ca familia Amatulli renunta la fetita si asa a obtinut un al doilea consimtamant pentru Daniela Elena, dar de data aceasta in favoarea unei familii de spanioli. Foarte repede si inexplicabil de usor a scos fetita din orfelinat si a dat-o spaniolilor, care au si plecat cu ea in Spania. Iar familia Amatulli, care nu stia de toata aceasta poveste, considera si acum, dupa cinci ani, ca li s-a rapit o fata, ei fiind in continuare parintii legali ai fetitei.

Dreptate in doua viteze

- Ati atins un subiect fierbinte. Cum vom putea intra in Comunitatea Europeana, cand unii dintre onorabilii nostri avocati sunt delincventi internationali, iar Romania este considerata o patrie a coruptiei?

- Eu nu i-as invinovati pe acesti cativa, foarte putini avocati. Dupa atatea demersuri si investigatii, am ajuns la concluzia ca adoptiile ilegale s-au facut cu sprijinul tacit al autoritatilor. Eu as invinui mai degraba autoritatile romane, care ar fi trebuit sa fie garantul legalitatii, al corectitudinii. Autoritatile romane sunt vinovate pentru ca au permis ca acest fenomen sa existe. Nici unui inalt functionar de stat - platit din banii contribuabililor - nu i-a pasat ca Romania este vazuta atat de prost in lume. Socul meu este ca dupa acesti patru ani, pe care toti i-am asteptat cu atata speranta, n-a venit inca vremea dreptatii. Deocamdata, in Romania legea functioneaza cu doua masuri: una, drastica, aplicata celor multi, cealalta, aplicata unora de la inalte nivele, care admite ilegalitati si faradelegi rasunatoare. 

- D-na Dana Deac, sunteti un respectat reporter de investigatie. Ce calitate esentiala ar trebui sa aiba un astfel de ziarist?

- O calitate care se vede la foarte multi dintre colegii mei - si din presa scrisa si din televiziune - moralitatea. Pentru ca, daca nu esti moral ca individ, nu te poti face auzit. Atunci cand descoperi ceva, trebuie neaparat sa ai tinuta morala pentru a fi credibil. Si, slava Domnului, in Romania au mai ramas ziaristi morali!

Sanda Anghelescu