Journalists from OCCRP's partner RISE and the German Welt am Sonntag newspaper have uncovered another case of large-scale fraud regarding the acquiring and sale of Romanian forests, leading to several arrests and a criminal investigation of Romanian officials.

Former minister of internal affairs and administrative reform of Romania, Cristian David, was charged with bribery and detained for 24 hours by the Romanian anti-corruption office on Jan. 21.

Romanian authorities have launched an investigation into senator and former justice minister Tudor Chiuariu, on suspicion of money laundering, trading in influence, and links to an organized crime group implicated in the alleged illegal restitution of 43,000 hectares of forest.

The chief prosecutor of Romania's anti-organised crime agency has resigned after being remanded in custody for 30 days on suspicion of corruption.