Writing your way out of a Romanian prison

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Prosecutors in Romania are trying to establish if some prisoners jailed for corruption and fraud are claiming authorship of books to get their sentences reduced.

Inmates can have their sentences reduced by 30 days for every scientific work they publish, though they may never appear in a bookshop.

Authorities think rich prisoners may be paying publishers to print their works, or paying others to write books for them.

Prosecutors are also trying to ascertain if university professors are taking bribes from rich prisoners. The academics are required to approve the subjects of the books.