article_snippet.sent: Elena Udrea, pictured, is accused of taking bribes and abusing her position in government .
article_snippet.sent: A glamorous Romanian politician who finished fourth in the country's presidential election has been charged with accepting bribes and abusing her power while a government minister by anti-corruption police.
article_snippet.sent: Elena Udrea, 41, was investigated over claims during her time as the country's tourism minister that her had accepted bribes worth an estimated £1.3 million.
article_snippet.sent: her was indicted along with seven other people, including the country's former economy minister Ion Ariton, who was charged with abuse of power.
article_snippet.sent: Prosecutors allege that Udrea and a number of her associates sought money from private firms in exchange for guarantees that Udrea and a number of her associates would be paid promptly for public projects.
article_snippet.sent: The centrist politician is accused of accepting cash in Romanian leu as well as euros worth an estimated £1.3 million.
article_snippet.sent: The centrist politician claims the charges against The centrist politician are politically motivated and accuses the anti-corruption prosecution agency of being linked to the secret service.
article_snippet.sent: Recent corruption cases have shown mayors, city councillors as well as other politicians requiring a kick-back to secure lucrative contracts.
article_snippet.sent: Prosecutors claim that Udrea used some of the cash to finance the political party
article_snippet.sent: The centrist politician was involved with.
article_snippet.sent: It is also claimed that Udrea used 8.1 million leu, worth £1.3 million of money belonging to a regional development ministry to fund a private boxing event under the pretext of buying tourism advertising for Romania.
article_snippet.sent: Ariton, who is now a senator, is accused of convincing ten state-owned companies to sponsor the private event for 1.7 million leu, worth £276,000.
article_snippet.sent: In her last position, her administered a yearly budget of £2.37 billion.
article_snippet.sent: One-time Romanian presidential candidate Elena Udrea, pictured, is accused of taking bribes .
article_snippet.sent: The 41-year-old  former tourism minister is also accused of abusing The 41-year-old  former tourism minister position in government .
highlights_snippet.sent: Elena Udrea, 41, is accused of abusing her position in government .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Prosecutors claim her accepted bribes worth an estimated £1.3 million .
  