Fugitive Ex-Intelligence Officer Daniel Dragomir Loses Latest Legal Battle to Overturn Conviction
The high-stakes legal saga surrounding former Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) officer Daniel Dragomir has hit another roadblock. The fugitive, who has been dodging Romanian authorities from his hideout in Italy, recently saw his latest attempt to wipe his record clean rejected by the courts.
In a decision that adds another chapter to this dramatic international pursuit, the Bucharest Tribunal dismissed a request for the revision of Dragomir’s sentence. The former officer had filed the motion on June 17, 2025, hoping to escape the penalties of his conviction. However, on December 22, 2025, the court shut down the bid, ruling that the “evidence” presented by the former SRI agent—specifically testimony based on hearsay—was completely inadmissible.
This latest defeat follows a pattern of failed legal maneuvers for Dragomir, who has already lost several other extraordinary appeals against his definitive sentencing. Despite the setback, the drama isn’t over yet; the case has now moved to the Bucharest Court of Appeal, with the first hearing for his contestation scheduled for May 19, 2026.
The controversy stems from a sprawling corruption scandal involving “protection fees.” Dragomir was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison for influence peddling, tied to a 460,000 euro scheme. The funds were allegedly paid by Lebanese businessman Rami Ghaziri—widely known as the “chicken king” and former owner of Agroli Group—through an intermediary, Emile Kharrat, to shield Ghaziri from ANAF audits.
Even as his legal battles rage in Bucharest, Dragomir is living a far quieter life in the north of Italy. He has taken up residence in Formigine, a compact town of roughly 30,000 people in the Modena province, located just minutes from the Autostrada del Sole. Having successfully avoided extradition to Romania, the former colonel is reportedly waiting for his Romanian sentence to be equated within the Italian legal system.
The fallout of the scandal extended beyond Dragomir himself. His wife, likewise a former member of the SRI, received a two-year suspended sentence in the same case. Reports have linked the couple to business dealings with Judge Ovidiu Puțura, the first Romanian magistrate ever convicted of giving and taking bribes.
As the legal clock ticks toward the May 19, 2026, hearing, the case remains a focal point of interest, highlighting the complex intersection of intelligence, high-finance corruption, and international flight. For more details on the proceedings, you can view the original report via Libertatea.
