Romanian media owner Dan Diaconescu goes into police custody for 29 days

Media owner and journalist Dan Diaconescu has been taken into police custody for 29 days after having been accused of blackmail and threat by the Romanian Anti Corruption Body (DNA). Dan Diaconescu, who owns OTV TV station, was accused of blackmailing and threating the mayor of Zarand locality in Arad county, Ion Mot. Diaconescu was previously a witness in a file submitted by Ion Mot against OTV anchor Doru Parv. Parv and Diaconescu had allegedly asked for EUR 200,000 not to broadcast compromising footage for Ion Mot. According to DNA, Mot has paid EUR 30,000 of this amount. Diaconescu is one of the several public figures which were taken into custody in the last years: Romanian investor and soccer club owner George Becali stayed in custody too for 29 days in April last year, while Romanian investor Dinu Patriciu spent a night in jail in 2005 in the Petromidia case file. in Dan Diaconescu's case DNA prosecutors had search warrants for the OTV headquarters, as well as for the journalist’s home, where they have tried to find a series of video tapes which were allegedly the subject of the blackmail. Diaconescu's trial started at 21.30 hours yesterday and lasted until Wednesday morning, after Diaconescu's lawyers have tried to challenged the judge, Elena Zamfir, saying she had already formed her opinion on the case and she didn't have the time to study the case file. The challenge was however rejected. OTV (Oglinda Television) was launched nine years ago. During this time, OTV has been penalized by the National Audiovisual Council (can) on numerous occasions, culminating with the decision to suspend its broadcasting one year after launch. Dan Diaconescu has also created DDTV, a second TV station, which was supposed to be his backup if the OTV broadcasting license was ever suspended. During the latest presidential election campaign, OTV has supported current president Traian Basescu in his political campaign, having invited Basescu in its TV shows on several occasions. This campaign was among the ones which were penalized by the CNA. Dan Diaconescu is known for his evening-to-late-at-nigh show 'Dan Diaconescu in Direct' (Live), which is a debate show. The TV station runs shows and debates with astrologers, star scandals, murder cases, among others, but manages to achieve high ratings on certain shows.