Romanian businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vantu was sentenced to six months in jail for blackmailing business partner Sebastian Ghita, of the Asesoft group. Vantu can appeal the court decision. Ion Ilie Cezar, part of Vantu's entourage, was also sentenced to five months in jail. This is Vantu's first conviction, but may not be his last as he is being investigated for money laundering and the FNI Ponzi scheme from the late 90s.

According to prosecutors, both Vantu and Cezar told Sebastian Ghita to give them EUR 150,000, threatening to kill him and his family. Moreover, Vantu is accused of demanding a EUR 200,000 monthly 'protection' fee from Ghita, who had signed a management contract with Vantu's TV station Realitatea TV.

“I think deeds like this should not be found in the business environment in Romania and I am convinced that Mr. Vantu will refrain from other activities against the law,” said Ghita, who filed the complaint that led to the trial.

Both Vantu and Cezar were arrested at the end of April 2011 and released mid-June, after the court argued that his notoriety and the lack of definitive convictions should not take away the right to be free while being investigated. Vantu was then arrested the second time in November, on money laundry in the Petromservice case file.

More about Sorin Ovidiu Vantu here.

editor@romania-insider.com