- Title: ROMANIA: Soccer tycoon George Becali detained over stolen car row
- Date: 7th April 2009
- Summary: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (APRIL 06, 2009) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS SUPPORTING GEORGE BECALI GATHERED IN FRONT OF COURT BUILDING ANGRY MAN SHOUTING MAN STICKING A PIECE OF PAPER ON THE BACK OF A SHIRT, READING: WHEN YOU SAY THE TRUTH YOU ARE ARRESTED!!!? MAN HOLDING BANNER READING: GEORGE BECALI FREEDOM! BASESCU (TRAIAN BASESCU - PRESIDENT OF ROMANIA) JAIL! CLOSE ON PICTURE OF GEORGE BECALI WOMEN SHOUTING: GEORGE BECALI! FREEDOM! MEN WITH SHIRT WHERE WE CAN READ: FREE GIGI (GEORGE BECALI) PEOPLE SHOUTING PEOPLE GATHERED IN FRONT OF COURT BUILDING MAN IN CHAIR WITH BANNER READING: BECALI NOT GUILTY (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian) GEORGE BECALI'S LAWYER, MIHAI GHENUS, SAYING: "The law was not applied at all, both the Romanian constitution and the European Human Rights Convention. The right to be defended was not respected when prosecutors started criminal investigations. From our point of view, the act of arrest was not valid."
- Embargoed: 22nd April 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Romania
- Country: Romania
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA67FG5JV41AM994NY0XQK1RFOZ
- Story Text: Protesters gathered in front of a Romanian court house on Monday (April 6) calling for the release of George 'Gigi' Becali, the detained owner of Steaua Bucharest soccer club.
Becali was appealing a court decision to detain him for 29 days, while prosecutors investigate allegations he illegally detained three people he said stole one of his cars.
Becali, whose club has played in the group phase of the Champions League competition for the last two seasons, has denied any wrongdoing.
"The law was not applied at all, both the Romanian constitution and the European Human Rights Convention. The right to be defended was not respected when prosecutors started criminal investigations. From our point of view, the act of arrest was not valid," said one of Becali's lawyers, Mihai Ghenus.
Ghenus said he believed Becali would be freed later on Monday.
Police said they were called to a scuffle in the early hours of January 27 when witnesses saw a group of people shove three people into the trunk of a car after blocking traffic.
A Bucharest police spokesman said they were told that the aggressors were using guns.
The three were taken to a house on the outskirts of the capital Bucharest where they were detained for three hours and accused of taking a black Mercedes owned by Becali, according to police.
Video handed out by police allegedly showed Becali and his bodyguards talking to the three men, saying he would not tolerate stealing in his neighbourhood.
The daily newspaper Jurnalul National quoted Becali as saying he was the real victim and that if he had gone to the police to report his missing car he would not have got it back.
Police say they will continue investigating until prosecutors decide whether or not to indict Becali.
Becali also faces trial on charges of offering 1.7 million euros to another soccer club for trying to stop rivals of Steaua, European Cup champions in 1986, from winning the national championship. He denies any wrongdoing. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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