Romanian PM Ponta indicted in corruption case
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta was indicted on charges of forgery and money-laundering on Thursday in a case related to his former activities as a lawyer, the biggest case yet in a sweeping crackdown on corruption.
Ponta, who was charged in August, has repeatedly denied the accusations against him and accused prosecutors of "manipulating public opinion" and disclosing incomplete information. The indictment means prosecutors have closed their investigation and sent the case to Romania's top court for trial, Reuters reports.
Already wounded by a shock presidential election defeat and facing a general election next year, Ponta has resisted calls to resign and so far has the backing of his leftist party and its allies to stay in power.