Romanian prosecutors obtained permission on Friday to detain their own organised crime unit chief pending a criminal investigation, the latest in a series of high profile corruption cases in the eastern European state.

Anti-corruption prosecutors had filed a request with the judicial supervisory body to detain Alina Bica, accused of abusing her position in a previous role at a government agency that restores property seized under communism to its original owners.

Bica, who has not yet been arrested, could not be reached. The crime unit declined to comment.

Anti-corruption prosecutors have earned high praise for their efforts from the European Union, which is keeping Romania's justice system under special supervision and has barred the country from its passport-free Schengen zone until its performance improves.

Earlier this week, parliament struck down a bill aimed at keeping politicians out of jail, bowing to pressure from incoming president Klaus Iohannis.