Prosecutors from the General Prosecutor's Office of Romania have asked the Supreme Court of Cassation to authorize the preliminary arrest of 18 defendants detained in the case, in which former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu is also accused, Agerpres reported, BTA reported.
Prosecutors are also seeking an arrest warrant in absentia for Horacio Potra – a former member of the French Foreign Legion and a military services provider in the Democratic Republic of Congo, whose security firm provides Georgescu's bodyguards – as well as for his son Dorian Potra and another member of his family, Alexandru Potra.
Horaciu Potra left Romania before his house was searched.
„Following hearings held on 26 and 27 February 2025, the prosecutor from the „Criminal Prosecution“ department of the General Prosecutor's Office today decided to initiate criminal proceedings against 21 defendants, 18 of whom were detained for committing the following crimes: attempts to commit illegal acts, failure to comply with the weapons and ammunition regime, any operations with pyrotechnic devices carried out without a permit. In addition, the prosecutor proposed a 30-day pre-trial detention for the 18 defendants in custody, as well as for three defendants in absentia," the Prosecutor General's Office announced late last night.
On Wednesday morning, investigators carried out 47 searches in various Romanian counties in a case related to the financing of an election campaign, the creation of an organization of a fascist, racist or xenophobic nature, as well as the promotion of the cult of persons guilty of committing crimes of genocide.
In a building inhabited by Horacio Potra and his son, weapons and ammunition hidden in a secret room were seized yesterday. Police also found over 40 magazines, 51 grenades, 44 grenade launchers, 21 deadly pistols, 7 machine guns, over 20 boxes of ammunition, 6 weapon parts, 4 explosives, etc. More than 25 kilograms of gold, over $3.3 million, over 700,000 Romanian lei, 43,000 euros, 13,000 dirhams and 21,000 Serbian dinars were also found and seized.
The prosecutor's office is investigating Georgescu, who won the first round of Romania's presidential election on November 24. The Constitutional Court annulled the election due to irregularities in campaign financing and suspicions of foreign interference. The prosecutor's office is investigating the far-right politician and others on suspicion of "inciting acts against the constitutional order" and creating a fascist organization. Georgescu was detained on Wednesday and taken from the police station for questioning at the prosecutor's office, after which he was released.
New presidential elections are expected to be held on May 4.