The Bucharest Court of Appeal is deciding whether to extend the pre-trial detention for Călin Georgescu, former presidential candidate. He is accused of fraud and forming an organized criminal group. His warrant expires at midnight today, October 28, 2026. The hearing concluded with the decision pending; Georgescu was returned to custody awaiting the verdict, HotNews reports.

The Court is evaluating DIICOT's appeal against the decision of the Bucharest Tribunal, which had ordered Georgescu's release under judicial control, rejecting the request to extend his detention. This ruling was not final. Previously, the Court of Appeal had denied the replacement of pre-trial detention with house arrest, which the Tribunal had granted.

The accusations against Georgescu stem from the complaint of businessman Răzvan Leu, who claims to have been defrauded of 1.1 million euros. Prosecutors point to a precious metals deal with Leu for which a guarantee was required. Of this, 100,000 euros allegedly would have been allocated to his presidential campaign, according to the accusation.

Dozens of Georgescu's supporters gathered at the Court of Appeal, showing their support. His lawyers told the media there was insufficient evidence to extend the detention. The panel includes magistrates Andrei Buliga and Dragoș Valentin Mirea. Ionel Rusen, a co-defendant, also remains in pre-trial detention after his challenge was rejected.