Romanian investor detained in Belgrade wants to stand trial by video conference

The lawyers of Sebastian Ghita, the Romanian businessman currently detained in Belgrade, said their client would like to stand the trials in the five criminal cases he is the subject of in local courts using videoconferencing, Agerpresreported. Ghita, a former MP, is detained in Belgrade, where he was caught after disappearing in December of last year. In January the High Court of Cassation and Justice issued a European arrest warrant on his name. He was internationally followed and wanted by the Europol. In a case where Ghita is on trial on charges of bribing former Ploiesti mayor Iulian Badescu, the judges postponed the court hearing for June 6 and decided to ask that he presents himself at the Serbian penitentiary. Also on June 6 the judges will discuss the Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) request for the issuing of a third arrest warrant in absence on his name. The DNA asked for the new arrest warrant in the Ploiesti mayor bribing case. The DNA prosecutors have brought several charges against Ghita, the richest member of the former Parliament, including bribery, buying influence, money laundering, and extortion as well as driving without a valid license. One case he is investigated in concerns the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s visit to Romania in 2012. The DNA prosecutors believe that Ghita paid for a visit Tony Blair made to Romania, during which the former British PM met Victor Ponta, who was Romania’s PM at that time. The prosecutors think that Ponta benefited from that visit and that he rewarded Ghita with an MP seat. editor@romania-insider.com