Court of Appeal Justifies Georgescu's Arrest: Villa in Italy, Political Asylum and False Documents
Bucharest Court of Appeal justified the arrest of Călin Georgescu through concrete risk of flight to Italy and obtaining political asylum. The case concerns damages of 1.1 million euros.
Risk of Flight to Italy and Political Asylum, Court's Arguments for Georgescu's Arrest
Bucharest Court of Appeal explained, in the reasoning of the preventive arrest decision for Călin Georgescu, that there is evidence outlining a concrete risk that the former presidential candidate would evade the investigation, according to mediafax.ro. Among the elements cited are discussions about a property in Italy, measures to obtain political asylum, external contacts, documents with diplomatic appearance and jamming equipment.
One of the main arguments in the reasoning — obtained by Gândul — is a confidential discussion between Georgescu and Ionel Rusen. According to the court, Georgescu was asking Rusen to identify a property in Italy that would be "secured" and would "fall under Italian law".
In the same conversation appear the phrases "take the children and that's it" and "sure, my people", and the court quotes the expression: "What matters is that no one detects anything. That's what interests me most. We can't let it come out."
Political Asylum and Contacts in Italy
The court shows that in May 2025, Georgescu allegedly asked Rusen to take measures to obtain political asylum, both for himself and for people who supported him. In discussions, relations in Italy were invoked and a former prosecutor who could have facilitated the procedure.
Diplomatic Documents and Jamming Equipment
The file also considered jamming equipment found in the vehicle used by Georgescu, along with documents bearing the mentions "Diplomatic Passport – Order of Malta" and "Diplomatic Id", issued in his name. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta stated that Georgescu is not a member and that the institution did not issue those documents.
The majority of the panel assessed that all these elements, analysed together, exceed the hypothesis supported by the defence — according to which Georgescu simply wished to purchase a property in Italy.
"Actual" Risk to Public Order
The judges concluded that the risk of evasion and influencing the criminal proceedings is "actual", citing discussions about leaving Romania, seeking a state for asylum, identifying the property in Italy, documents for travel and external contacts. The court also assessed that releasing the defendants poses "concrete danger to public order" and that a milder measure is insufficient, noting that preventive arrest does not equate to a finding of guilt.
Separate Opinion
The decision was not unanimous. Judge Cristina Grecu issued a separate opinion, considering that the conditions for preventive arrest are not met. The magistrate assessed that the intention to purchase a property in Italy and the discovery of jamming equipment are not in themselves sufficient to demonstrate a concrete risk of flight.
Bucharest Court of Appeal ordered definitively, on 29 September, the preventive arrest for 30 days of Călin Georgescu and Ionel Rusen. The case concerns accusations of forming an organised criminal group and deception with particularly grave consequences, with damage estimated at 1.1 million euros.
Source: Google News RO — Crime (ro)