Suspect in Valentina Tănăsie case brought to Romania: faces up to 20 years imprisonment
Vlăduț Bălțățeanu, suspected of killing his girlfriend and throwing her body in a suitcase into the Olt river, has been extradited from Switzerland. The 30-year-old is in custody at Vâlcea Police Inspectorate.
Suspect in suitcase case from Olt extradited and placed in custody in Râmnicu Vâlcea
Vlăduț Bălțățeanu, the 30-year-old suspected of killing his girlfriend and throwing her body in a suitcase dumped in the Olt river, has been brought to Romania, according to ProTV News. The suspect spent the night in police custody in Râmnicu Vâlcea.
On 22 September, a group of fishermen discovered a suitcase floating on the Olt, containing the body of Valentina Tănăsie. The young woman's family identified her boyfriend as the primary suspect, the last person to have seen her alive.
After the crime was discovered, Bălțățeanu fled the country. Police located his phone in Hungary, from where it later travelled to Italy and then Switzerland. A preventive arrest warrant for murder was issued in his name, confirmed by judges, and authorities launched an international manhunt. On 28 September, the suspect turned himself in at the police station in the Swiss town of Saint Gallen.
On Wednesday at midday, Bălțățeanu was collected by Romanian police officers and brought to the country by plane, which landed at Henri Coandă Airport in Bucharest.
"Romanian police officers took the man into custody to enforce the preventive arrest warrant issued in his name," declared Bogdan Ghebaur, spokesperson for the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police.
Eduard Văduva, spokesperson for Vâlcea Police Inspectorate, clarified that "the man is in the custody of S.I.C. police officers at Vâlcea Police Inspectorate, and investigations continue as part of the criminal file being handled by the Office of the Prosecutor attached to Vâlcea County Court".
If found guilty of murder, Bălțățeanu faces up to 20 years in prison.
Source: Știrile ProTV