Horațiu Potra, the Mercenary: CAB to Decide on Wednesday Whether He Remains Under House Arrest
Bucharest Court of Appeal examines on Wednesday Horațiu Potra's request to replace house arrest with judicial supervision. He is being tried alongside Călin Georgescu in a case concerning actions against constitutional order.
CAB deliberates on preventive measure for mercenary Horațiu Potra
Bucharest Court of Appeal has a decisive hearing on Wednesday, 26 August, in the case of Horațiu Potra, according to Cotidianul.ro. The court is examining his appeal against the decision by which judges rejected, as unfounded, his request to replace house arrest with judicial supervision.
Potra had filed a similar request at the hearing on 4 August. At that time, the court ordered the maintenance of house arrest "until a further check, but no later than 30 days". Subsequently, judges rejected the request, and Potra appealed this decision — an appeal being heard on Wednesday.
The mercenary has been under house arrest since June. On 17 June, the High Court of Cassation and Justice ordered his release from preventive arrest and placement under house arrest. Previously, the court had admitted the appeals of his son and nephew, both placed under judicial supervision after they too had been under house arrest.
Potra is being tried alongside Călin Georgescu and 20 other defendants in a case concerning actions against constitutional order. On 6 August, HCCJ rejected the appeals filed in preliminary chamber, a decision which allows the trial on the merits to begin at CAB. The supreme court specified that at this stage, the accusations on the merits and the guilt of the defendants had not been examined — judges checked solely the legality of procedures.
"The determination of the guilt or innocence of the defendants can take place only in the course of the trial on the merits, in the conditions provided for by law and with respect for all procedural safeguards," HCCJ stated.
CAB had established as early as 2 April that the trial could begin, a decision contested by both the defendants and the Public Ministry. Horațiu Potra was detained in Dubai in September 2025 and agreed to be brought to Romania, arriving in the country on 20 November 2025, together with his son and nephew.
Source: Cotidianul.ro