Geoergescu arrested in Romania for fraud exceeding €1 million
Former Romanian presidential candidate Călin Geoergescu was arrested on Monday as part of an investigation into fraud and criminal group formation.
Geoergescu detention: charges of million-euro fraud and organised crime
Călin Geoergescu, a former candidate for Romania's presidency, is being held in custody following his arrest on Monday by police and the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), according to gr.euronews.com.
Prosecutors have accused him, along with two other individuals, of defrauding a Romanian businessman and forming an organised criminal group. According to the charges, the three individuals convinced the victim that they could secure him access to funding from foreign banks worth up to €15 million in exchange for cash.
"Under these circumstances, the perpetrators convinced the victim to transfer over €1,000,000," DIICOT stated in a press release, adding that they subsequently "convinced the victim to transfer a further sum of €100,000." The group was presented as "thriving businessmen and executives of foreign companies" who reportedly possessed large capital available for lending, on condition of providing financial guarantees.
During questioning, supporters of Geoergescu gathered outside DIICOT's central headquarters, holding flags and religious icons and chanting slogans "freedom for Călin," according to Euronews Romania.
The new case is added to two pending criminal cases against him: one with accusations of actions against Romania's constitutional order and another for promotion of fascist ideology.
The pro-Russian nationalist politician came to prominence for the first time in 2024, when he won the first round of the presidential election. Romania's Constitutional Court later annulled the election, citing allegations of interference in the electoral process. Shortly before the second round in December of that year, he stated to the BBC that if elected, he would end all support to Ukraine, while denying that Russian influence had played a role in his campaign.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)