Suspended head of Metrology Institute challenges Anticorruption Center head to boxing duel

Igor Caldare, the head of the National Standardization and Metrology Institute who was suspended from the post, invited the head of the Center for Combating Corruption and Economic Crime (CCCEC) Viorel Chetraru to a boxing duel in the Great National Assembly Square at 6pm today. He also invited Minister of Justice Alexandru Tanase, lawyer Janeta Hanganu and Deputy Prime Minister Valeriu Lazar to televised debates, Info-Prim Neo reports. “In order to prevent the dignitaries from intimidating private individuals and legal entities and from starting legal cases by order, I challenge Viorel Chetraru to a boxing match without gloves that will last until knockout,” Igor Caldare told a news conference on July 6. “During several months, I have repeatedly said that the case against me was opened by order. I did not give names, but I will now give them,” Igor Caldare said. According to him, the first team of swindlers who launched a fraudulent scheme involving water meters are meteorologists protected by the representatives of the Liberal-Democratic Party Alexandru Tanase and Janeta Hanganu. The second team that bought the equipment is under the protection of Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar, who is a member of the Democratic Party. Igor Caldare urges the leaders of the two parties, the PLDM and PDM, to allow the three persons to take part in TV debates to clarify this problem. He also asked Prime Minister Vlad Filat, the president of the PLDM, to allow him to dissolve the Center for Combating Corruption and Economic Crime, stressing he does not want money for this service. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, the Center's spokeswoman Angela Starinski said Igor Caldare's accusations and invitation to a boxing duel represent a challenge and Viorel Chetraru will not accept such a manipulation of the public opinion. “Viorel Chetraru does not have the power to order starting a legal case. Only the prosecutor can do it,” Angela Starinski said. Two legal cases were opened against Igor Caldare, but they were later merged into one. He is accused of misuse of power and illegal awarding of prizes to the value of about 70,000 lei. The case was sent to court five months ago, but sent back to the CCCEC for reexamination.