20.01.2012

PRESS RELEASE

As a follow-through to the cases dealing with the events known to the public opinion as “violent actions during the street manifestations in the period January 15^th-19^th, 2012,”

the Public Information and Press Relations Bureau within the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice is authorized to bring to public knowledge the following:

A number of 12 cases were opened by the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest 1^st District Court of Law, cases in which investigations are conducted for the offences of outrage against morality and serious disturbance of public order and safety, destruction and outrage.

We recall that, the Prosecutor’s Office attached Bucharest 1^st District Court of Law conducts investigations for the offences of outrage against morality and serious disturbance of public order and safety, and destruction, in relation to the incidents that took place in the evening of 16.01.2012, hours 21:30, in the area of Calea Victoriei in Bucharest, against VASILE KAROL-DIETER. The defendant, together with other 5 people, would have reportedly kicked up a row in the area of Calea Victoriei, in Bucharest, would have kicked a car, destroying its side-mirror and wing. He was detained by the police authorities for 24 hours and on 17.01.2012 he was taken before the prosecutors within the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest 1^st District Court of Law, who ordered against VASILE KAROL-DIETER the provisional measure of the obligation not to leave town and continuation of the investigation for determining all the circumstances of the case.

A number of 7 cases were opened by the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest 2^nd District Court of Law, cases in which investigations are conducted for the offences of destruction, outrage against morality and serious disturbance of public order and safety, destruction and outrage.

We recall that prosecutors within the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest 3^rd District Court of Law requested the court of law on 17.01.2012, the provisional arrest of a defendant for having committed the offence of larceny.

The magistrates of the 3^rd District Court of Law allowed the request of the prosecutors and decided the issuance of a provisional arrest warrant for the defendant for 25 days.

The first investigations led to the conclusion that, in the context created by the incidents which took place on 15.01.2012, the defendant had participated in the theft of several mobile phones displayed in the shop windows of a work point belonging to a mobile phone company, by destroying the windows and other assets inside.

In order to be able to continue the investigations, in the evening of 18.01.2012, prosecutors within the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest 3^rd District Court of Law requested the court the provisional arrest of two other defendants, the request of the prosecutors being dismissed by the magistrates of the 3^rd District Court of Law.

The prosecutors filed an appeal, the judgment term being decided for today, 20.01.2012, at the judicial control court, i.e. the Bucharest Tribunal, which is to give a decision in reference to this legal remedy.

The two defendants were also accused of the fact that, in the context created by the incidents that took place on 15.01.2012, they had participated in the theft of several mobile phones displayed in the shop windows of a work point belonging to a mobile phone company, by destroying the windows and other assets inside.

Prosecutors within the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest 4^th District Court of Law conduct investigations in a criminal case against the defendant CĂPĂŢÂNĂ MIHAI for having perpetrated the offence of conspiracy to commit offences, outrage against morality and serious disturbance of public order and safety.

We recall that the provisional arrest of the defendant CĂPĂŢÂNĂ MIHAI, for the charge of having participated together with other persons, on 15.01.2012, in the burning of property belonging to the public domain, in the area of the intersection of Cantemir and Mărăşeşti streets in the Municipality of Bucharest.

The Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest 5^th District Court of Law opened a criminal case in which investigations are conducted as to the incident that took place during the manifestations of protest of 19.01.2012, with regard to the use without right of white weapons.

Investigations are ongoing so as to establish all the circumstances of the case.

Also, prosecutors within the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest Tribunal took over, from several district prosecutor’s offices covered by the Municipality of Bucharest, 7 criminal files concerning offences committed on the night of 15/16 of January 2012, during the manifestations that took place in Piaţa Universităţii and in the neighbouring areas.

The cases deal with offence of illegal possession of white weapons, outrage against morality, serious disturbance of public order and safety, destruction, that is groups of tens of people bawled insulting words and expressions at the law enforcement officers, tore the metal fences separating the traffic lanes, threw stones, bottles, blunt objects against persons who were at the time in the area (both against those manifesting and against the enforcement officers).

Also, in one of the cases dealt with by the same unit, that is the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest Tribunal, investigations are conducted against a person for having committed the offence of affront to ensigns, as he displayed contempt through the action which led to the degradation of a flag flying on a public institution in the area of the Colţea Hospital.

The Military Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest Military Tribunal as well as the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest 5^th District Court of Law registered each two complaints against the gendarmes who secured the area and provided public order and safety during the street manifestations.

We also recall that prosecutors of the Prosecutor’s Office attached the Piteşti Court of Law conduct investigations against an underage defendant, O.A. (aged 17), for having committed the offences of outrage and outrage against morality and disturbance of public order and safety. He was detained by the prosecutors for 24 hours and was sent before the court of law on 17.01.2012, with a proposal for provisional arrest.

The evidence administered in the case led to the conclusion that, on the night of 16.01.2012, around 20:00 hours, the defendant, being in the central zone of the Piteşti Municipality, among other protesters, hurled a stone in the ornamental arrangements lying in the area and broke the window of the Trade Unions’ House. Subsequently, under the same circumstances, while in the area of the Central Post Office of the same town, he gave a blow in the face to a gendarme who was on duty, causing corporal lesions that require 15 days of medical care (nasal pyramid fracture with nasal airway obstruction).

Investigations are underway in order to determine all the circumstances of the case and to identify the persons involved, and when we know more, we shall inform the public opinion.