30-day preventive arrest term for Mircea Basescu, President Basescu's brother

The Bucharest Court on Friday ruled a 30-day preventive arrest term for Mircea Basescu, President Basescu's brother.

Mircea Basescu's lawyer said that the warrant has been executed. He said also that Mircea Basescu made appeal to the court decision.

Mircea Basescu on Thursday was remanded in custody for 24 hours by prosecutors of the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) on charges of influence peddling.

According to a report of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Mircea Basescu used his status as a member of the family of President of Romania, Traian Basescu, giving the impression that he could influence the judges into handing down a milder sentence or even release from prison [mobster] Sandu Anghel aka Bercea Mondial.

"Both defendants (Mircea Basescu and go-between Marian Capatana — Ed. note) used defendant Mircea Basescu's status as member of the family of the President of Romania to give credibility to their allegations that they could exert influence upon the magistrates and render credible their promises that they could obtain a favorable judgment. Defendant Mircea Basescu — although knowing his brother's responsibilities and also telling the denouncer in a wiretapped discussion that 'this is not in the President's powers', does not discourage comments regarding the person of the President, and even more, fuels them so as not to dispel the impression that he can influence the magistrates," the prosecutors assert.

The report also shows that Marian Capatana received 250,000 euros, representing the first tranche of a total of 600,000 euros Bercea's family had been required to pay, in an apartment in Constanta; the banknotes were checked and counted by a machine and then the money came into...