Nicusor Constantinescu finally gets to Romania, waits for imprisonment

Nicu?or Constantinescu, brought to Romania from Turkey on Thursday, was taken from Henri Coanda Airport to Bucharest Court, where a judge decided the confirmation of the arrest warrant issued against him in July.

Bucharest Court confirmed on Thursday the arrest warrant issued on the name of Nicu?or Constantinescu, suspended President of Constanta County Council. He was to be taken to prison, either at police, or at one of the units subordinated to the National Administration of Penitentiaries (ANP).

The police will determine the location where the suspended president of Constanta County Council will be imprisoned, depending on Nicu?or Constantinescu’s health, but also on his permanent residence. Nicu?or Constantinescu’s attorneys stated, on behalf of their client, that there is a second arrest warrant issued in absentia by the Court of Constanta.

Constantinescu was arrested on Tuesday by the local Turkish authorities, after the Ministry of Justice sent the necessary documents in order for him to be brought to Romania for being remanded in the cases in which he is being judged.

According to one of his attorneys, Nicu?or Constantinescu told the Turkish judges that he was intending to voluntarily return to Romania on Thursday anyway, so the Turkish Court did not decide his arrest for extradition. Constantinescu has also presented the Turkish magistrates the documents proving that his intentions to voluntarily return to Romania from the US were for real.

Constantinescu also told the Bucharest Court,in his defense, that during this period of time he was in several cities in the US to cure his cancer and that it has been well known all along where he was. Moreover, he added that he went from the US to Turkey at the American physicians’ recommendation.