The Bucharest Court of Appeal on Tuesday ordered former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu into 30-day pre-trial detention, admitting a challenge by the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) in the case in which he is accused of defrauding a businessman of €1.1 million. The same measure was imposed on businessman Ionel Rusen.

The decision followed a split panel: judges Violeta-Elena Georgescu-Ashemimry and Cristina Grecu initially failed to reach agreement on the preventive measures sought by prosecutors. A divergence panel was then formed, with a third judge, Dragos Mirea, tipping the balance in favour of detention. Leaving the courtroom, Georgescu made a brief statement: 'Everything around us is God. God is everything. He is existence itself.'

Georgescu and Rusen had been detained for 24 hours last week on charges of forming an organised criminal group and aggravated, continued fraud. A Bucharest Tribunal judge initially rejected DIICOT's request for pre-trial arrest and placed both men under judicial control for 60 days. DIICOT appealed, seeking detention, while the two defendants asked for the judicial control to be lifted.

The investigation began after a complaint filed by Buzau businessman Razvan Leu, who said he was defrauded of €1 million. According to prosecutors, Leu met Georgescu through a mutual acquaintance, Ion Negoescu, and was invited to join a purported precious-metals trading venture requiring a €6 million credit line. Georgescu allegedly directed him to Rusen, who introduced an Italian citizen, Massimiliano Arena, presented as a representative of a Swiss bank.

To secure the loan, Leu was asked to pay a €1 million guarantee - including €100,000 purportedly earmarked for Georgescu's presidential campaign, for which prosecutors say a spending plan was even shown. Leu later transferred another €100,000 after being told the loan could be increased to €15 million. The credit never materialised, and the businessman's requests for reimbursement went unanswered.

After Georgescu was initially released, prosecutors placed a seizure on his Mogosoaia villa to recover the alleged damages.

Later in the day, police removed Calin Georgescu from his villa in Mogosoaia, handcuffed, to be taken to the Capital's Central Detention Facility, as several dozen supporters booed the officers while he was placed in the police car. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Eusebi Manolache; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)