Businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vantu and Ion Ilie Cezar remain under arrest

Businessmen Sorin Ovidiu Vantu and Ion Ilie Ceza remain under preventive arrest in the file in which the two are accused of blackmailing Sebastian Ghita, manager of news television Realitatea TV at the time owned by Sorin Ovidiu Vantu. The decision was taken today, by Bucharest Court magistrates, news agency Mediafax reads.

The preventive arrest decision will be under consideration in 60 days. Vantu claimed on Thursday in court that he was in arrest because there was attempt of a group to takeover Realitatea TV in the name of President Basescu and that their plans have been shattered as Vantu sold the news television to an old friend and businessman Elan Schwartzenberg.

His lawyer, Marian Nazat said the value of the transaction amounted to 150 million euro. As he left the court room, Vantu asked journalists to tell President Basescu that the war is not won. According to prosecutors, the two threatened Sebastian Ghita to give them 150,000 euro or to give up his management contract at Realitatea TV.