Former Romanian presidential candidate Georgescu detained and put under investigation for fraud

Calin Georgescu, a former Romanian presidential candidate, was detained by Romanian police on Monday as prosecutors investigated him for fraud and forming an organised criminal group. The investigation centers on Georgescu's alleged attempt to defraud a Romanian businessman out of over €15 million in foreign bank financing in exchange for cash.

According to prosecutors, the perpetrators convinced the victim that he could access the funds, and as a result, he transferred more than €1 million. The group then persuaded the victim to transfer an additional €100,000. The group portrayed themselves as prosperous businesspeople with substantial funds to lend to Romanian business expansion, but their intentions were fraudulent.

Some of Georgescu's supporters gathered outside the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) headquarters during his questioning, carrying flags and religious icons while chanting for his release. Despite facing this current investigation, Georgescu has already been implicated in two other cases. One involves allegations of acting against Romania's constitutional order, and the other accuses him of promoting fascist ideology.

Georgescu gained notoriety in 2024 after securing the first round of Romania's presidential election, which was later annulled by the Constitutional Court due to alleged electoral interference. During a BBC interview ahead of the second round in December, Georgescu stated that he would end all support to Ukraine if elected and denied that Russian influence played a role in his campaign.