Appeal set for 23 October

The Bucharest Court of Appeal will hear a challenge filed by prosecutors against a ruling that replaced Călin Georgescu's pretrial detention with house arrest. The hearing is set for 9:00 on Friday, 23 October 2026. Georgescu, a former presidential candidate, announced the date on Facebook on Monday, 19 October, after receiving the reasoned ruling. He wrote that the case file was sent to the appeal court that same day. Georgescu remains in custody in the meantime.

“Until then, the preventive detention measure remains in force.”

The house-arrest ruling

On 13 October, judge Vlad Andriescu of the Bucharest Tribunal granted Georgescu's request to swap pretrial detention for house arrest. The judge cited personal circumstances, including that Georgescu has no criminal record, a stable home, a marriage and two minor children. The judge also noted that Georgescu had complied with judicial control and returned to answer summonses after leaving the country. The house arrest was set for 30 days, starting when the ruling becomes final, and requires him to report periodically on his means of subsistence. It also bars him from contacting the injured party, that person's family, witnesses and experts. DIICOT challenged the decision, which is why the appeal court now holds the case.

The alleged fraud

Georgescu has been in pretrial detention since 29 September in a case where he is accused of defrauding a businessman of 1.1 million euro. According to the case file, the businessman was offered a stake in a precious metals trading deal that required a 6 million euro credit line. Georgescu allegedly recommended a trusted contact, who introduced an Italian citizen presented as the representative of a Swiss bank. To obtain the credit, the businessman was asked to pay a 1 million euro guarantee, of which 100,000 euro was to finance Georgescu's campaign for the presidency. Prosecutors say a spending plan for that sum was presented. A further 100,000 euro was transferred on a promise that the loan could rise to 15 million euro, but the loan never materialised and the complainant says he has not recovered the 1.1 million euro. A second suspect is accused alongside Georgescu of forming an organised criminal group and aggravated fraud.

Credit line sought6,000,000

Guarantee demanded1,000,000

Additional transfer100,000

Portion for campaign100,000

Credit line sought

6000000 EUR

Guarantee demanded

1000000 EUR

Additional transfer

100000 EUR

Portion for campaign

100000 EUR

Data from the article text

Detention history

Before the current ruling, the Bucharest Tribunal rejected prosecutors' request for pretrial detention on 22 September and placed Georgescu under judicial control for 60 days. DIICOT challenged that decision, and on 29 September the Bucharest Court of Appeal ordered 30 days of pretrial detention. In its reasoning, the court cited suspicions that Georgescu and the second suspect intended to evade criminal prosecution. The judges also referred to steps taken to find accommodation in Italy. The timeline below shows how the measures have moved since September.

What happens next

The Court of Appeal will rule at the 9:00 hearing on 23 October and decide whether Georgescu moves to house arrest or stays at the Central Arrest of the Capital Police. The case file is being registered and randomly assigned to a panel of judges. Georgescu has urged supporters to ignore speculation in the public space and follow only his official channels. Until the court rules, the detention measure stays in force.