The judges’ reasoning for the arrest of Călin Georgescu

The Bucharest Court of Appeal provided the reasoning for the pretrial detention of Călin Georgescu and Ionel Rusen, citing a concrete danger to public order and the risk that the two could influence the investigation or evade criminal prosecution. The decision was made after DIICOT prosecutors challenged the judicial-control measure.

The judges cited the seriousness of the alleged offenses, the duration of the alleged criminal activity, the €1.1 million loss and the use of encrypted means of communication. In Georgescu’s case, the court mentioned discussions about moving to Italy, purchasing property in Tuscany and seeking political asylum. The deletion of some messages and the identification of jamming equipment were considered indications of possible preparations to evade the investigation.

According to the reasoning, Georgescu allegedly facilitated contact between the injured party and Rusen, who was presented as an intermediary for obtaining a loan. The victim was subsequently allegedly asked to provide guarantees, while the money was not repaid.

The decision does not express a conclusion regarding the guilt of the two men, the judges said. Cristina Grecu issued a dissenting opinion, considering that there were no concrete indications that Georgescu or Rusen intended to flee or go into hiding.