The founder of the Conservative Party and the most vehement opponent of the President of Romania has received the maximum sentence as provided by the new Criminal Code. With this sentence, the Court of Appeal basically doubled the punishment given to Voiculescu by the court of the first instance when the case was first tried.
In the same case, named the Telepathy case file, researcher Gheorghe Mencinicopschi was sentenced to serve 8 years in prison. The following defendants were also sentenced to serve: Corneliu Popa, 8 years, Jean Catalin Sandu, 6 years, Sorin Pantiş, 7 years, Vlad Savulescu, 6 years, and Flavius Pop 5 years. Gheorghe Sin, Constantin Baciu (4 years), Alexandru Petre, Grigore Marinescu and Vica Ene (3 years) received suspended prison sentences.
Other measures taken in Dan Voiculescu’s case:
- Confiscation of a 29,000 square meters land located in Garlei street.
- Confiscation of the building from Garlei Street, Building 4457.
- Confiscation of the building located on Bucharest-Ploiesti street 25-27 (Headquarters of Antena 3)
- Dan Voiculescu movable and immovable properties are also seized.
Related to the sequestration the judges placed on the Antena 3 headquarters, Adrian Ursu, editorial director of Intact Media Group, has assured that this will not lead to the termination nor to the shutting down of the voice of the television station. In his turn, the director of Antena 3, Mihai Gadea, said that the station will continue broadcasting. "We are here so that the TV station should not stop broadcasting . It is not at all an easy time. The fact that they have decided to confiscate the headquarters of Antena 3 for me means everything. I will keep you informed about the plans we are going to make and God willing, we will be fine. I feel that we are many, we are honest. We did not steal anything, we did not sell gold, we have done nothing that they did. Perhaps it's time to see what we are capable of. We welcome you to join us! " Mihai Gadea said on Antena 3.
The Prime Minister of Romania, Victor Ponta gave assurances in his capacity of political leader that he will do everything in his power so that the Antenna 3 journalists should carry on with their professional activity.
"I have taken note of the decision of the Court of Appeal. I do not comment on sentences passed in criminal cases, but I do want to assure everyone that as long as I am a political leader and a citizen of Romania, I am obliged to do everything in my power so that Antena 3 / Antena 1 journalists and all the journalists in our country, regardless of their editorial policy, should be able to operate under the constitutional right of the freedom of expression and media independence, "Ponta wrote on his Facebook account.
The prime minister added that "beyond the dramatic moments experienced by the families of the convicted" , he is convinced that "a free country can only exist if there is a free press”.
"Along with millions of other Romanians I wish and I think that for many years to come 'Antena 3 will be here'," Ponta pointed out.