Călin Georgescu seeks fourth release from pre-trial detention at Bucharest Court
The former presidential candidate is seeking to replace pre-trial detention with house arrest or judicial supervision. The Court of Appeal has each time annulled favourable decisions issued by Bucharest Court.
Georgescu's fourth attempt to escape pre-trial detention, repeatedly rejected by the Court of Appeal
Former presidential election candidate Călin Georgescu was brought to Bucharest Court on Thursday for the fourth time, requesting replacement of his pre-trial detention with a lighter measure, according to Jurnalul.ro. He is seeking either house arrest or judicial supervision.
Georgescu has been in pre-trial detention since 29 September in a file being investigated by DIICOT in which he is accused of causing financial loss to a businessman of 1.1 million euros. He is under investigation, not convicted.
The investigation began from a complaint by Răzvan Leu, a businessman from Buzău, who is said to have been drawn into a scheme involving precious metals transactions. In order to access a credit line of 6 million euros, Leu is said to have been directed by Georgescu to discuss matters with Ionel Rusen. The latter is said to have introduced him to Italian national Massimiliano Arena, who is said to have posed as a representative of a Swiss bank.
According to prosecutors, Leu was allegedly asked to provide a guarantee of one million euros, of which 100,000 euros was to finance Georgescu's presidential campaign. Subsequently, the businessman allegedly transferred a further 100,000 euros, with a promise that the loan could reach 15 million euros. The credit was never granted, and Leu did not recover his 1.1 million euros.
On three occasions, Bucharest Court ordered, in one form or another, Georgescu's release. Each time, the Court of Appeal definitively overturned these decisions, establishing that both Georgescu and Ionel Rusen remain in pre-trial detention.
Source: Jurnalul.ro