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DIICOT sends Călin Georgescu and Ionel Rusen to trial over an alleged fraud worth more than one million euros

Cristiana Dida

12 November 2026, 11:18

Current Affairs

Călin Georgescu / foto: shutterstock.com

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DIICOT has sent Călin Georgescu and Ionel Rusen to trial in a case in which they are accused of defrauding a businessman of more than one million euros. The case will be heard by the Ilfov Tribunal.

The two are accused of forming an organized criminal group and of fraud with particularly serious consequences, committed repeatedly. According to prosecutors, Călin Georgescu was allegedly the group’s leader and coordinated the criminal activity. Massimiliano Arena is also mentioned in the case file; DIICOT opened a separate case concerning him.

Investigators claim that, beginning in September 2021, the defendants allegedly misled a representative of a commercial company by promising him access to six million euros in financing from a financial institution presented as operating in the United Kingdom. The victim allegedly transferred, in December 2021 and January 2022, guarantees of 2,500 euros, one million euros and, subsequently, 100,000 euros.

DIICOT is requesting that the seizures imposed on Georgescu’s assets and accounts be maintained, as well as the pretrial detention of the two. They have been in pretrial detention since the end of September and are awaiting a final decision on replacing the measure with house arrest.

Călin Georgescu is also on trial in two other cases, concerning accusations of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and of Legionary propaganda.

Context: after the detention at DIICOT, investigators requested pretrial detention and conducted searches with relevant seizures in the DIICOT case

Before the case reached court, Călin Georgescu was detained on Monday by DIICOT prosecutors for 24 hours and was subsequently brought before the Bucharest Tribunal together with businessman Ionel Rusen. Prosecutors requested 30 days of preventive detention amid an investigation into an alleged fraud scheme and the formation of an organized criminal group, in which a businessman was allegedly misled regarding external financing.

In the phase preceding the detention, searches took place at Georgescu’s homes in several localities, and the investigation described seizures including jamming systems, documents, and storage devices, in addition to indications that an identity card unauthorized by the Order of Malta had been used. Georgescu was taken out of the DIICOT headquarters and transported to the Central Detention Center, while supporters also appeared in the area around the institution.

Subsequently, the Bucharest Tribunal ordered that the two be placed under judicial control: Georgescu and Rusen were released after the ruling was handed down, which was enforceable, and during the period of judicial control they had to comply with the measures established by the court.